Vitamin Deficiency Linked to Diabetes, Autoimmune Disorders, Cancer
Vitamin D, also known as the Sunshine Vitamin, plays
essential roles in supporting our energy and balancing our moods. It
also helps to build healthy bones, heart, nerves, skin, and teeth, and
supports the health of the thyroid gland a butterfly-shaped gland in the
throat that helps maintain a healthy weight, balanced metabolism, and
energy levels. But, at this time of year, it is easy to develop a
Vitamin D deficiency.
New evidence shows that people with higher levels of vitamin D
experienced a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers at the US
Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at
Tufts University just released its study linking low levels of vitamin D
to diabetes in the June 2010 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The authors of the study concluded that maintaining optimal vitamin D
levels in the blood may be a type 2 diabetes prevention strategy.
Other research found that vitamin D plays a critical role in
activating the body’s immune system against infectious diseases like the
flu. Researchers note that a deficiency in this important vitamin,
which actually acts like a hormone in your body, may result in a greater
risk of contracting flu viruses. Also, additional research linked low
amounts of vitamin D to autoimmune disorders, cancer, depression,
diabetes, and heart disease.
Many people incorrectly think that getting a bit of sunshine daily is
sufficient to meet their vitamin D requirements. However, after your
skin is exposed to sunlight, it takes about 48 hours to convert it into
vitamin D. During that time, the sunlight-initiated precursors to
vitamin D can be washed off with soap and water. So, if you scrub your
skin with soap in the shower, your body will not convert most of your
skin’s sun exposure to vitamin D. I’m not suggesting that your stop
showering after sun exposure, rather, that you primarily soap the areas
that don’t see the light of day and was the sun-exposed ones with water
only.
Getting enough sun exposure at this time of year can be difficult.
Vitamin D is also found in foods such as fish and fish oils, and in
smaller amounts in sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, and many
types of sprouts. People with low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) tend
to have difficulty with vitamin D absorption and, as a result, tend to
have higher needs for this nutrient. For most people I recommend
supplementation of 2000 to 4000 IU daily but everyone’s needs are
different so it is best to work with a qualified natural health
specialist.
