VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

What Causes Vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency is caused mostly by a simple lack of sunlight. It use to be when people worked outside this was not a issue. Now that the majority of people work inside we are seeing the consequences. This is even worse in the winter when sunlight is at a premium anyway. It takes sunlight for the production of this vitamin in our bodies. Lack of Vitamin D Sends your Body into Crisis Mode
A deficiency of vitamin D is a biological emergency. There's no need to be deficient. It is easy (and cheap) to get enough. Vitamin D boosts your immune system and improves your general health

I never realized the extent of Vitamin D deficiency until my cousin mentioned that she was found to be suffering from it. Like many of my relatives she has always had dry skin problems (even acne with dry skin!), eczema when she was small, weight problems, lack of energy, and now she has insomnia. She had thought that she had a thyroid problem. We also learned that this deficiency has been causing her dry skin problems. Well, after that I just had to do research so I could add this important information for my dry skin sufferers.

I have discovered that almost all people are lacking enough of this important vitamin. Now I live in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and we have a saying up here "We don't tan we just rust". We often have 8 to 9 months of rain per year. Enough to make the Californians who say, "We just love the rain", pack up and leave in about the second month of living here. We have many friends with seasonal affective disorder due to the lack of sunlight. So I know that what I'm hearing about the Vitamin D deficiency has got to be true. If you live where there is a serious lack of sunlight you will need to pay close attention to your diet to get the proper levels of vitamin D that your body needs. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which means it can be stored in the body.

Treatment for Vitamin D Deficiency

We need to listen to some of the experts who are urging us to up the amount of Vitamin D we take daily to avoid deficiency. The new daily amount is as follows:

--Adults 50 years of age or older need 1000 to 5000 IUs daily.

IU stands for international units. Before increasing your intake see your physician so he/she can determine which amount is safe for you. You can also request to be tested for this deficiency. And while you are at it please get the CHOLECALCIFEROL or VITAMIN D3 type. It is the best for absorption.

You should also spend 20 minutes a day of unprotected (no sunscreen) sun exposure each sunny day to help your skin soak up that "sunshine" vitamin.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms

You could be a victim of vitamin D deficiency if you are experiencing one or more of these signs:

--inflammation in the body.

--rickets or defective bone growth.

--insomnia.

--lack of energy.

--pain issues.

--heart disease.

--dry skin.

--diarrhea.

--dental decay.

--nervousness.

--your diabetic condition worsening because insulin production is effected.

Benefits

--strong bones.

--healthy immune system.

--maintains health of your skin.

--a possibility of preventing the onset of multiple sclerosis.

--a possibility of preventing osteoporosis, depression, schizophrenia, and various cancers.

--it aids in the absorption of Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

--proper neuromuscular function.

--healthy eyes.

--helps treat diabetes and obesity.

--aids in the absorption of calcium and in the regulation of calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood.


I have found on Utube a wonderful video of Robert P. Heaney M.D. explaining Vitamin D deficiency. It is approximately 44 minutes in length. Please enjoy. Be aware that this video is for informational purposes only and they do not endorse me in anyway.

Sources

--beef liver

--milk

--egg yolks

--sardines

--cereals (fortified)

--tuna

--cod liver oil

--salmon and mackerel

Vitamin D and Psoriasis

In addition to supplementation and creams, UVB treatments are also effective in relieving psoriasis. Why? Because of the production of Vitamin D created by the sunlight.

Vitamin D also is an antioxidant and prevents damage to skin structure and prevents premature aging. Isn't that enough of a great reason to increase your intake of the "sunshine" vitamin?

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