Dangers of Low Vitamin D
First off: it is worth noting that Vitamin D deficiency is very common. 32% of children and 50% of adults need more of the "Sunlight Vitamin." With staggering numbers like this it seems like we would all be finding excuses to see more sunlight or find fun sources of Vitamin D fortified foods like Orange Juice or vitamin gummies.
Vitamin D is essential in the process of turning Calcium into bone cells. If you are not getting enough of it you may find yourself experiencing or be at risk for Rickets, bone pain, muscle weakness, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, asthma, and even cancer. Vitamin D and calcium are linked to each-other in a cycle in our body of breaking down bones and building them back up again. If calcium levels in the blood drop too low, our bodies release parathyroid hormone (PTH) that pulls calcium from bones. On one hand this raises the calcium levels of our blood, on the other, it destroys our bones. This can result in Osteoporosis over time. PTH also converts vitamin D to Calcitriol. This is another cycle that is regulated by PTH. It increases absorption of calcium and phosphorus. The digestive and urinary systems are both involved in this process as well. These concerns are particularly important for women during pregnancy or menopause.
Known causes for Vitamin D deficiency are:
Vegan Diet: many of the best sources of Vitamin D are animal-based. Fish, fish oil, egg yolk, cheese, fortified milk, and beef liver are some of the best sources. The best sources of Vitamin D are skin exposure to sunlight, supplements made from sheep's wool or fish oil. Basically what it comes down to is that if you want a good vegan source of Vitamin D you are either ok with sheep's wool supplements, or sunlight exposure. When it comes to supplements; Vitamin D3 is much better in high doses in quantities like 50,000IUs. In smaller quantities Vitamin D2 is more effective in the range of 1,000 – 4,000 Ius. In an urgent situation some people resort to using Ultraviolet lamps and bulbs to supplement their Vitamin D levels. This is an extreme measure and not recommended without doctor recommendation.
Social and Cultural: Some customs require people to stay indoors for a vast majority of their time, or wear clothing that prevent direct exposure to sunlight. If it is your custom to practice a lifestyle that prevents sun exposure you may want to look into alternate sources of Vitamin D.
Dark Skin: People who are very tanned, or who have naturally dark skin have a “resistance” to producing Vitamin D. It is particularly important to find alternate sources of Vitamin D, or increase exposure to sunlight to offset this resistance.
Age: For those of us who are more experienced in life, or perhaps are feeling the effects of age on our bodies; we also run the risk of Vitamin D deficiencies. Age has all sorts of causes and exaggerated effects on the Calcium and Vitamin D cycles. A more comprehensive report or study would be required for this subject.
Known Ailments Associated with Vitamin Levels:
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease can be twice as likely depending on the severity of Vitamin D deficiency levels.
Prostate Cancer in Euro-American and African-American men over the age of 40 and an average age of 66 is much more likely if Vitamin D levels are low.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is linked to low levels of Vitamin D as well. Other reasons can be linked to Diabetes, prostate cancer, and high blood pressure.
Schizophrenia diagnosis is twice as likely among people who are Vitamin D deficient than those who are not.
Heart disease is linked to Vitamin D levels in that patience who have the most severe types of heart disease are deficient in Vitamin D.
The best sources of Vitmain D are cheese, salmon and other fatty fish, and fortified foods.
Of particular importance for the Vitamin D cycle are Calcium levels. The calcium levels in plants is directly related to the calcium in the soil (or growing medium) the plants are grown in. Some of the best foods to eat for sources of Vitamin D are fortified soymilk, bok choy, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, watercress, and broccoli.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/illnesses-linked-vitamin-d-deficiency/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/vitamin-d-deficiency
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcitriol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_digestive_system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinary_system
http://www.minutemaid.com/products/orange-juice/pure-squeezed-no-pulp-calcium-vitamin-d/
http://www.natures-products.com/contract-manufacturing/delivery-technologies/capsules/gummies/
First off: it is worth noting that Vitamin D deficiency is very common. 32% of children and 50% of adults need more of the "Sunlight Vitamin." With staggering numbers like this it seems like we would all be finding excuses to see more sunlight or find fun sources of Vitamin D fortified foods like Orange Juice or vitamin gummies.
Vitamin D is essential in the process of turning Calcium into bone cells. If you are not getting enough of it you may find yourself experiencing or be at risk for Rickets, bone pain, muscle weakness, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, asthma, and even cancer. Vitamin D and calcium are linked to each-other in a cycle in our body of breaking down bones and building them back up again. If calcium levels in the blood drop too low, our bodies release parathyroid hormone (PTH) that pulls calcium from bones. On one hand this raises the calcium levels of our blood, on the other, it destroys our bones. This can result in Osteoporosis over time. PTH also converts vitamin D to Calcitriol. This is another cycle that is regulated by PTH. It increases absorption of calcium and phosphorus. The digestive and urinary systems are both involved in this process as well. These concerns are particularly important for women during pregnancy or menopause.
Known causes for Vitamin D deficiency are:
Vegan Diet: many of the best sources of Vitamin D are animal-based. Fish, fish oil, egg yolk, cheese, fortified milk, and beef liver are some of the best sources. The best sources of Vitamin D are skin exposure to sunlight, supplements made from sheep's wool or fish oil. Basically what it comes down to is that if you want a good vegan source of Vitamin D you are either ok with sheep's wool supplements, or sunlight exposure. When it comes to supplements; Vitamin D3 is much better in high doses in quantities like 50,000IUs. In smaller quantities Vitamin D2 is more effective in the range of 1,000 – 4,000 Ius. In an urgent situation some people resort to using Ultraviolet lamps and bulbs to supplement their Vitamin D levels. This is an extreme measure and not recommended without doctor recommendation.
Social and Cultural: Some customs require people to stay indoors for a vast majority of their time, or wear clothing that prevent direct exposure to sunlight. If it is your custom to practice a lifestyle that prevents sun exposure you may want to look into alternate sources of Vitamin D.
Dark Skin: People who are very tanned, or who have naturally dark skin have a “resistance” to producing Vitamin D. It is particularly important to find alternate sources of Vitamin D, or increase exposure to sunlight to offset this resistance.
Age: For those of us who are more experienced in life, or perhaps are feeling the effects of age on our bodies; we also run the risk of Vitamin D deficiencies. Age has all sorts of causes and exaggerated effects on the Calcium and Vitamin D cycles. A more comprehensive report or study would be required for this subject.
Known Ailments Associated with Vitamin Levels:
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease can be twice as likely depending on the severity of Vitamin D deficiency levels.
Prostate Cancer in Euro-American and African-American men over the age of 40 and an average age of 66 is much more likely if Vitamin D levels are low.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is linked to low levels of Vitamin D as well. Other reasons can be linked to Diabetes, prostate cancer, and high blood pressure.
Schizophrenia diagnosis is twice as likely among people who are Vitamin D deficient than those who are not.
Heart disease is linked to Vitamin D levels in that patience who have the most severe types of heart disease are deficient in Vitamin D.
The best sources of Vitmain D are cheese, salmon and other fatty fish, and fortified foods.
Of particular importance for the Vitamin D cycle are Calcium levels. The calcium levels in plants is directly related to the calcium in the soil (or growing medium) the plants are grown in. Some of the best foods to eat for sources of Vitamin D are fortified soymilk, bok choy, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, watercress, and broccoli.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/illnesses-linked-vitamin-d-deficiency/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/vitamin-d-deficiency
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcitriol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_digestive_system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinary_system
http://www.minutemaid.com/products/orange-juice/pure-squeezed-no-pulp-calcium-vitamin-d/
http://www.natures-products.com/contract-manufacturing/delivery-technologies/capsules/gummies/
