A New Epidemic? By Dan Farrell
A recent article in the Reader's Digest points out some rather startling new information, at least to this author, that according to Michael Holick, who's spent the last 30 years researching the subject, believes we're living in anunrecognized epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency. And scientists are linking low levels of D to cancer, hypertension, diabetes and osteoporosis.
Researchers used to think that Vitamin D was for building strong bones but new research shows that this humble nutrient is far more versatile.
Unlike most vitamins, D isn't found in much we eat, other than fortified milk and coldwater fish like mackerel and salmon. Most of it is supplied by the sun. D-related hormone in the skin soaks up the ultraviolet rays in sunlight and travels to the liver and the kidneys, where it is picked up by extra molecules of oxygen and hydrogen. This process transforms this potent hormone into calcitriol. Scientists believe that this disease fighting calcitriol is very important to prevent the above diseases.
Let the sun bake on your unprotected arms and face for a few minutes and you will have all the D you need.
In northern climes though it is believed that there is a deficiency from 20 to 60 percent among those over 50.
A startling fact is that there is more and more rickets every because doting parents are breastfeeding their infants and keeping them out of the sun.
Here are the recommended daily doses for Vitamin D:
Under 50 = 200IU's a day 51-69 = 400IU's a day over 70 = 600IU's a day More than 2,000IU's can lead to a toxic buildup of calcium in the bloodstream.
Getting 800IU's isn't that hard. An 8-ounce cup of milk contains almost 100IU's. For lactose intolerant or those who don't like milk, Minute Maid offers D-fortified orange juice.
Better still, get outside (but without sunscreen).
This article and much more can be found in “It's Your Health, what you don't know might be killing your health” found here. http://itsyourhealth.2ya.com
For more information on this topic:
http://pop.cc.nih.gov/ccc/supplements/vitd.html http://vitamind.ucr.edu/ http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band37/b37-4.html http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitaminandmineralsupplements.html
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