The Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin. When the weather is warmer it means no more need for winter coats and layers of warmth. We can sleep with our windows open, experience the pleasant summer nights and fresh, local, healthy-looking produce. During the winter, it’s still entirely possible to get enough vitamin D. A simple test is to look at your shadow. If its the same height or shorter than you, you’re getting enough sun to make vitamin D.
Deficiency
Yet, summer or winter, many people are struggling with vitamin D deficiency. Scientists report an overwhelming vitamin D deficiency among North America’s population.
Vitamin D is beneficial for many vital body processes and deficiency can leave you feeling out of balance. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble pro-hormone that is most well-known for the regulation of calcium absorption; however, it is also very important to metabolism at the cellular level. It is an important aspect of insulin production, immunity, and inflammation reduction. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include chronic pain, fatigue and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, Seasonal Depression, osteoporosis, and some cancers.
Most of us get 90% or more of our vitamin D from the sun. The rest comes from diet. Sadly, recent increases in skin cancer rates worldwide and increasing nutrient-poor foods among our diet have allowed for long-forgotten diseases, (who remembers rickets?) to make a comeback.
Along with Chiropractic Lifestyle Care to ensure the healthy function of your spine and nervous system, 15-30 minutes of sun a day should maintain an adequate vitamin D level. Of course, we must consider safe sun exposure when considering vitamin D for health.
It is important to note that sunscreens decrease vitamin D synthesis by nearly 99%. As we age we lose the ability to utilize vitamin D. Darker complexions require 5 to 10 times as much sun exposure than lighter complexions to produce the same amounts of vitamin D.
A Word of Caution
Excessive levels of vitamin D can cause serious consequences. Over supplementation of vitamin and skin damage can lead to other serious health problems.
Healthy sun exposure helps health flourish and lasting health is a cornerstone for living the ideal 100 Year Lifestyle. Live yours and enjoy a sunny and sensational century!
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