Reconsider Your Intake of Vitamin D
More and more, the importance of vitamin D is taking center stage in the medical community, as more research results continue to flow in pointing to its benefits for diseases including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes.
Researchers from Loyola University in Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, in an article published in 2009, declared Vitamin D to be the 'it' nutrient because of its health benefits and its role in combating chronic disease.
Their findings in this study show that this vitamin may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed.
Many of the 23 million Americans with diabetes have low vitamin D levels.
Evidence from the study suggests that it also plays an integral role in insulin sensitivity and secretion.
Its deficiency results in part from poor nutrition, which is one of the most challenging issues for people with diabetes.
Another culprit, the same researchers say, is reduced exposure to sunlight, which is common during cold weather months when days are shorter and more time is spent indoors.
This is especially true in northern climates like Canada and the UK.
The majority of this key health nutrient in our bodies (80-95%) is normally produced by the skin's reaction to sunlight (UVB rays).
Another recent study in the UK indicated that during the winter months, 87% of the population over the age of 45 had a concentration in their systems well below the recommended level of 30 nanograms per millimeter.
This information runs parallel to findings that those living in northern climates are more affected by heart disease than people living along the equator.
Many doctors are now recommending supplements containing from 200 to 1,000 IU (International Units) of vitamin D from October to April, the months when adequate sunlight is hardest to come by, especially in northern climates.
Experts say ten minutes of sunlight on the face and arms in the summer allows the body to produce 10,000 IU.
However this is not generally possible during the rest of the year in northern climates.
Besides sunlight and supplements, Vitamin D is also found in the following foods: Foods rich in D include: • Cod liver oil (1 soup spoon): 1,350 IU • Wild salmon (100 g): 600-1,000 IU • Farmed salmon (100 g): 100-250 IU • Canned sardines (100 g): 825 IU • Shiitake mushrooms (Qty 10): 650 IU • Mackerel (100 g): 345 IU • Canned tuna (100 g): 200 IU • Milk (1 cup): 90 IU Please remember to talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet or health habits.
Researchers from Loyola University in Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, in an article published in 2009, declared Vitamin D to be the 'it' nutrient because of its health benefits and its role in combating chronic disease.
Their findings in this study show that this vitamin may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed.
Many of the 23 million Americans with diabetes have low vitamin D levels.
Evidence from the study suggests that it also plays an integral role in insulin sensitivity and secretion.
Its deficiency results in part from poor nutrition, which is one of the most challenging issues for people with diabetes.
Another culprit, the same researchers say, is reduced exposure to sunlight, which is common during cold weather months when days are shorter and more time is spent indoors.
This is especially true in northern climates like Canada and the UK.
The majority of this key health nutrient in our bodies (80-95%) is normally produced by the skin's reaction to sunlight (UVB rays).
Another recent study in the UK indicated that during the winter months, 87% of the population over the age of 45 had a concentration in their systems well below the recommended level of 30 nanograms per millimeter.
This information runs parallel to findings that those living in northern climates are more affected by heart disease than people living along the equator.
Many doctors are now recommending supplements containing from 200 to 1,000 IU (International Units) of vitamin D from October to April, the months when adequate sunlight is hardest to come by, especially in northern climates.
Experts say ten minutes of sunlight on the face and arms in the summer allows the body to produce 10,000 IU.
However this is not generally possible during the rest of the year in northern climates.
Besides sunlight and supplements, Vitamin D is also found in the following foods: Foods rich in D include: • Cod liver oil (1 soup spoon): 1,350 IU • Wild salmon (100 g): 600-1,000 IU • Farmed salmon (100 g): 100-250 IU • Canned sardines (100 g): 825 IU • Shiitake mushrooms (Qty 10): 650 IU • Mackerel (100 g): 345 IU • Canned tuna (100 g): 200 IU • Milk (1 cup): 90 IU Please remember to talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet or health habits.
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