LIFETIME NUTRITION LLC.
  • Home
  • About
  • Testimonials
  • Services
  • FAQ's
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Resources

The Importance of Vitamin D

7/30/2014

0 Comments

 
In my sunscreen post, I talked about sunscreens causing a deficiency in Vitamin D that can lead to diseases.  So I wanted to talk about how important vitamin D is to us. 

If you haven't heard already, Vitamin D is actually a hormone because it has binding proteins that carries it to target organ which in turn respond to it.  But it is called a vitamin nonetheless.  It is called the "sunshine vitamin" because that is our best source.  There are food sources but they don't compare to the sun.  Food sources include:  salmon, sardines, mackerel, shrimp, cod, eggs and fortified foods.  I wouldn't go with the fortified foods because they are usually highly processed. 

We need to get unprotected sun for about 10-15 minutes per day between 10:00 and 2:00 pm during the months mid-March through mid -September (in NJ)
to get the benefits. The average amount produced during this time is 15,000 - 20,000 IU's and because it is a natural source when you have had enough sun, the body starts to break down the precursor of vitamin D so you are no longer producing activated vitamin D.   This benefit of does not happen when supplementing or using fortified foods.
Isn't the body amazing?

A simple blood test from your doctor will tell you if you need to supplement.  Conventional recommendations are to have levels between 35-50 ng/ml, but functional medicine says it should be higher - between 50 - 80 ng/ml.  The average blood levels when tested are usually below 35 ng/ml. 

So, to get back on topic, we are using sunscreen ALL the time and creating an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency.  This is not good because Vitamin D affects every cell of our body!

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms
  • Musculoskeletal pain
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Nerve pain or neuropathy
  • Bone Pain
  • Fatigue

What does Vitamin D do? 

  • It works with other nutrients in the body to support healthy bone growth by directing calcium and phosphorus to the bone.  This is important for our children and vitamin D is so rarely tested in them. 
  • It promotes normal cell growth and differentiation throughout the body
  • It maintains hormonal balance
  • It helps maintain a healthy immune system. In fact, you are less likely to get the flu if you have optimal levels of vitamin D! 
  • It inhibits systemic inflammation which is at the root of most disease processes.
  • Adequate vitamin D levels can reduce body fat in overweight people.

Have you had your Vitamin D levels tested lately? 





Sources: 
The Vitamin D Solution, Michael F. Holick Ph.D,
www.Mercola.com
www.naturalnews.com


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Kerri Ferraioli
    Master Nutrition Therapist

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    October 2019
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2016
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    November 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    December 2012
    August 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed



​Lifetime Nutrition LLC
Empowered Nutrition through Whole Foods


Kerri Ferraioli, CNTP, MNT, CGP, CFNC
Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition
®
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: 732/814-4886
  • Home
  • About
  • Testimonials
  • Services
  • FAQ's
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Resources