January 15, 2010

Vitamin D

You may remember your mom telling you to get outside and get some sun when you were little. And she was right! When UV-B rays from the sun hit your skin, it alters a form of cholesterol turning it into vitamin D3.

It isn’t as easy to get Vitamin D anymore because so many people work inside all day, live in areas of the country that don’t get a lot of sun, wear sunscreen all the time and don’t spend enough time outside. It is estimated that 85% of the American public, and 95% of senior citizens, are Vitamin D deficient. Also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” Vitamin D is a critical nutrient as deficiency of it has been linked to almost every health condition known from heart disease to cancer to multiple sclerosis. Optimizing your Vitamin D levels is one of the most powerful things you can do naturally to protect your health and boost your immune system.

As different parts of the country get different amounts of sunlight throughout the year, and as everyone’s skin pigment is different, the best rule of thumb is to go outside and get some sun (without suntan lotion as it prevents 95% of Vitamin D production) until your skin turns light pink – not red. In sunny Florida, this may be only ten minutes, but in Michigan in the winter, it could be 45 minutes. And if you don’t get a chance to get outside, you can supplement with Vitamin D3.

Most people need between 2,000 IU to 10,000 IU of Vitamin D a day to achieve beneficial levels. However, the average American only gets approximately 300 IU a day from their diet -- which is why deficiency and disease linked to low Vitamin D levels is so prevalent.

Visit Kehres Health Products to learn more and purchase Vitamin D3.

1 comment:

  1. Most of us have no time to go out under the sun to absorb vitamin D. The lack of this essential vitamin results in stress and other health problems.

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