CrippenWellness.com
As you have probably heard, optimum Vitamin D levels are important to optimum health. Not only does vitamin D help build strong, healthy bones, but recent research has show vitamin D has a beneficial effect on each of the following diseases as well:
- Cancer – Including Breast, Prostate, Colon and Skin
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Arthritis
- Infertility
- PMS
- Fatigue
- Depression
- SAD (Season Affective Disorder) and
- Autoimmune disorders including Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis among many others.
All of these conditions can be prevented or improved by optimum Vitamin D levels.
So, how can you assure you have optimum Vitamin D levels? And what can you do to raise your Vitamin D levels if they are low?
In this article, we are going to answer both questions.
While the potential benefits of optimum Vitamin D levels are enormous, there are 3 major flaws in measuring your vitamin D levels you need to be aware of.
1. Be careful if you are taking Statin (Cholesterol Lowering) Drugs
Vitamin D is unique in that it is the only vitamin your body can make itself. While all other vitamins must be ingested as part of your diet, vitamin D is different. When you are outside , the UVB rays from the sun convert a cholesterol precursor into an early form of vitamin D.
Since the cholesterol pathway is necessary to make vitamin D, is it any surprise vitamin D deficiency is rising as more and more people are prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs? At last count, at least 40 million individuals are on statin drugs and the statin drug industry is valued at over 29 BILLION dollars.
This means that at least 40 million individuals face an increased likelihood of vitamin D deficiency.
RECOMMENDATION – Realize if someone is on a cholesterol lowering drug, their body’s ability to make vitamin D is diminished.
Because of this, it is important to consider supplementing with a high quality Vitamin D supplement (Such as Cod Liver Oil or Cataplex D) or increasing your consumption of foods high in Vitamin D such as salmon, sardines, shiitaki and button mushrooms, grass fed milk, eggs and cod liver oil.
2. But my blood test says . . .
The tricky thing about vitamin D blood tests is they actually DON’T measure the active form vitamin D! And since the active form of vitamin D is responsible for all the great benefits listed above, this is a significant problem!
Typical blood work measures 25 (OH) vitamin D also called Calcidiol. However, the active form of vitamin D in your body is one step away from the above and is named 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D or Calcitriol.
What this means: Just because your blood work indicates your vitamin D levels are adequate (or inadequate), this is NOT necessarily an accurate picture of how vitamin D is FUNCTIONING in your body.
SOLUTION: Specifically ask your doctor to measure the active form of vitamin D – 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D or Calcitriol.
3. But I thought sunscreen was good for me . . .
Wearing sunscreen will BLOCK the UVB rays from the sun that your body NEEDS to make Vitamin D.
This means if you wear sunscreen with an SPF over 8, you are not making any (ZERO) Vitamin D and, in terms of Vitamin D, you are getting ZERO benefit from being in the sun.
While it is recommendable never to burn your skin, it is IMPERATIVE you spend time in the sun without sunscreen or other protection to optimize your Vitamin D levels and maximize your health.
SOLUTION – Spend time in the sun (at least 15-30 minutes) to allow your body to make the vitamin D you need, without burning your skin.
Below is a diagram of Vitamin D production in the body. Notice the importance of the sun, Skin, Liver and Kidneys in this process
