| Your
Body Depends on it!
Sunlight
is the source of life on Earth, but we may not be aware of all the ways it
benefits us. Our bodies manufacture Vitamin D3 when the skin is exposed to UV
radiation from sunlight, but the ability to do so decreases as we age. Vitamin
D3 (cholecalciferol) is a nutrient that is critical to many bodily functions.
It's converted from food sources and sunlight into its active form, calcitriol,
by the liver and kidneys. Vitamin
D3 is beneficial for supporting bone health, immune wellness, cardiovascular
function, and cellular metabolism, among others. Mounting research is
highlighting the ever-increasing benefits of optimal Vitamin D3 status. Vitamin
D3 is known to interact with over 200 different genes and thus plays a crucial
regulatory role as a metabolic activator for a multitude of metabolic
processes.
Vitamin
D3 helps regulate and control the metabolism of Calcium and Phosphorus by aiding
in the absorption of these two minerals from the small intestine, and by
directly affecting the rate at which these minerals form and maintain bone. Calcium, the main structural element in bones
and teeth, can only be absorbed by the body when Vitamin D is present. It is
therefore essential for building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It's
also believed to contribute to increased muscle strength, which may help improve
balance and reduce the risk of falls among the elderly.
It's
estimated that a significant percentage of adults suffer from Vitamin D
deficiency which is associated with a variety of health complications. The
elderly, alcoholics and strict vegetarians are particularly at risk for
deficiency and should consider regular supplementation. Individuals with darker
skin pigments may also be at increased risk, as darker skin contains higher
levels of melanin, which may inhibit the skin's ability to produce Vitamin D
from sunlight. Also, people with intestinal malabsorption, hyperthyroidism,
liver or kidney disease, or pancreatic conditions may be at risk.
Vitamin
D deficiencies are common among those with overactive parathyroid glands. This
gland is responsible for maintaining calcium levels, which is vital for proper
functioning of the muscular and nervous systems.
There
is a lot of evidence that people are very deficient in Vitamin D and to get
enough a higher dosage is preferable. The earlier USDA recommendation of 400 IU
per day is just enough to avoid serious diseases from Vitamin D deficiency. But
for optimum health much higher levels are probably necessary.
The fact that Vitamin D is measured in IU’s is
somewhat misleading. It looks like you are getting a lot when you take 5,000 IUs
but 1 microgram of Vitamin D is equal to 40 IU, so 5,000 IU is only 0.125
milligrams. Vitamin D is actually a seco-steroid hormone that affects almost all
the cells in your body by altering the expression of your genes. There are many
reports in the literature of people taking high dosages of Vitamin D and getting
excellent results. Also people generally get sicker in the winter when Vitamin D levels
are the lowest.
Our
Vitamin D3 has 5,000 IU per capsule and is from lanolin, which means it comes
from sheep’s wool.
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