The Sunshine Vitamin

by V Hopkins http://www.naturalnews.com/022997.html

Vit D is called the sunshine vitamin.When the sun's ultraviolet rays are absorbed by the skin, a biochemical process begins in which an active form of vit D is created, enters the blood stream and then the cells

Vit D enables calcium to be absorbed from the gut, prevents heart disease, and stops the out-of-control cell growth that characterizes cancer

One of the worst things people have done to their health is avoid sun exposure. Most of us work inside then sit in our cars, and when we're outside we slather ourselves with sun block and wear wide-brim hats and long sleeves. As a result, the majority of people have a serious vitamin D deficiency, thus increasing the risk of heart disease & cancer.

In population studies, the less sunshine they get, the higher our risk is for cancers of the colon, prostate, breast, lung and, believe it or not, skin.

Vit D deficiency causes autoimmune diseases such as fibromyalgia & multiple sclerosis (MS).

Children exposed to the sun an average of 2 to 3 hours a day in the summer are a third less likely to develop MS. Vit D deficiency can also cause muscle weakness, osteoporosis and chronic low back pain.

But haven't we been warned away from sun exposure for it causes cancer & wrinkles? Our world hysteria about sun damage is grossly exaggerated. It's one of those myths that has been repeated so much that most everyone assumes it to be true. The sunscreen industry has done a great job selling its wares by scaring us about sun exposure.

If you repeatedly get sunburned you somewhat increase your risk of non-melanoma skin cancer & wrinkles. The fairer the skin, the more easily it is sunburned and damaged. By far the biggest risk for skin cancer is simply having fair skin - with or without sunscreen. There's really no substantial evidence that using sunscreen protects you from skin cancer. Exposure to the sun as a child reduces the risk of melanoma.

How Much Sun Do We Need?

According to Michael Holick, a vit D researcher, author of The UV Advantage, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the summer (when the sun is most intense), a Caucasian with medium-fair skin living in Boston needs 5 to 8 min of sunshine daily without sunblock. In winter when the sun is further away, you need more sun. People who live further north and/or have darker skin need more time and people who live closer to the equator and have fairer skin need less time.

Although repeated sunburns are correlated with later skin cancers, people who are brown from spending their lives working outside in the sun do not have higher rates of skin cancer: factors such as light skin, freckles, numerous moles, genetics and exposure to radiation and arsenic are greater risk factors.

The bottom line is to ‘’’avoid sunburn’’’; in fact, you should be out of the sun long before your skin starts turning red. If you're pale as a ghost, begin with just a few minutes a day and gradually work up. If you're worried about facial wrinkles, wear a hat.

For those who have low vit D levels, live in colder, cloudier, northern climates or who just can't get out in the sun enough, it's wise to take a vit D supplement. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 400 IU is clearly too low. Vit D is a fat soluble and can accumulate in the body and become toxic, so there has been justifiable concern about taking too much. We can safely take 2,000 IU daily in the D3 cholecalciferol form to maintain our vit D levels. If you are seriously deficient and your doctor wants to ratchet up your vit D levels quickly with large doses, be sure to test levels regularly. Some doctors will recommend 10,000 IU for a few months to get vit D levels back to normal.

What Is an Optimal Vit D Level?

Vit D levels below 20 ng/mL indicate a deficiency, while levels below 30 ng/mL are considered "low." Optimal vit D levels are 30 to 60 ng/mL. Vit D can become toxic at levels greater than 150 ng/mL.

Who Is at Risk for Deficiency?

* The Elderly: As we age we absorb less vit D from the sun's UV rays. Living in a nursing home or becoming homebound can limit exposure to sunshine. Muscle weakness and osteoporosis induces fracture risk.

* P with Dark Skin: The darker the skin is, the higher melanin levels are, which blocks the action of sunlight on vit D precursors in the skin, requiring much longer sunlight exposure to generate adequate circulating vit D compared to people with fair skin.

* P with Limited Sunlight Exposure: People living at northern latitudes or who have limited sunlight exposure because of their working environment or cultural dress rules.

* P with Musculoskeletal Pain: People with symptoms of hypothyroidism, non-specific musculoskeletal pain, chronic low back pain, or fibromyalgia

* Overweight or Obese P: Vit D can be locked up in fat stores in people who are overweight or obese.