Many people have heard of Vitamin D. Many also know that the sun is a good source of Vitamin D naturally. However, for the vast majority of people, their knowledge of vitamin D ends right about there. Today I'd like to shed some light on Vitamin D and also explain why doctors and scientists are realizing Vitamin D may be more important than once thought.
Vitamin D is actually not a true vitamin. What it actually is is a precursor of a steroid hormone. This vitamin has long been known to be associated with proper bone growth, mineral metabolism and calcium absorption. However, in recent years, the deficiency of Vitamin D has been linked to a growing number of other health issues. Some new evidence is now linking Vitamin D to other problems such as; diabetes, muscle pain and even cancer!
Diabetes: Some evidence suggests that Vitamin D can help lower the chance of developing Type I diabetes. A study out of Finland followed 12,000 babies and their Vitamin D levels. The study found that the babies who received the recommended dosage of Vitamin D by supplementation were 80% less likely to develop Type I diabetes than those who didn't. Also of note is that Finland receives relatively little sunlight compared to southern latitudes. In the north of Finland, sunshine can be as little as 2 hours/day during the month of December.
Muscle Pain: A study out of the University of Minnesota medical school looked at 150 participants who complained of mysterious bone and muscle pains. When the participants were further examined, it was found that a staggering 94% were deficient in Vitamin D. Of these people, 55% were determined to be severely deficient. The findings lead to researchers suggesting that patients who complain of mysterious bone and muscle pain, should be screened first for Vitamin D deficiency.
Cancer: A study conducted by the US Department of Veterans Affairs medical center showed a relationship between the consumption of Vitamin D containing foods and a reduced risk of developing colon polyps. In fact the study found that the risk was 40% lower for those who ate foods high in Vitamin D compared to those who ate a small amount of Vitamin D rich foods or none at all. Polyps in the colon can potentially become cancerous over time so the indication that Vitamin D can act as protection is very important to overall health.
Now, how do you get Vitamin D? As mentioned above, your body can produce Vitamin D with exposure to sunlight, but you can also get some Vitamin D from your diet. Some foods that have Vitamin D include; Seafood (fish such as salmon, trout, halibut etc.), Soy, Nuts, Dairy and some vegetables.
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