The Value of Vitamin D
By Jackie Cartier
November 1, 2016
Most people are aware that we get vitamin D from the sun which in turn creates a direct impact on moods, but what else could it impact? In one word, everything. Every tissue and cell in your body has vitamin D receptors. So while our main source is the sun's rays, it's not as easy as just stepping outside. In the summer there's sunscreen preventing us from creating an adequate amount of vitamin D, then comes this time of year which is a different story completely. If you live north of the latitude of Atlanta, Georgia, you're not getting enough vitamin D from the sun. Either the sun isn't out enough or when it is shining, temps may be cold enough you may not want to be out soaking in the (freezing) sun.
At Nutritional Weight & Wellness we suggest real food for your nutrients, but the problem with vitamin D is that there are very few foods that contain adequate levels. While wild-caught fatty fish like salmon have some vitamin D, egg yolks, another source, only contain 30 IUs of vitamin D, a drop in the bucket if you are trying to get 4,000 IUs per day. If you suspect you're low in vitamin D, and more often than not people are, we recommend having your levels tested by a doctor. At Nutritional Weight & Wellness we like to see the results of a vitamin D 25 (OH) test somewhere between 50 and 70 ng/ml. With your results in mind, and since we're not about to start skimping on the sunscreen, pack up and move to the desert, or eat dozens of eggs a day, we suggest taking vitamin D supplements.
The benefits are truly outstanding; research shows adequate vitamin D is related to reduced cancer rates, healthier pregnancies, reduced diabetes frequency, lower blood pressure and finally (and perhaps most well-known), better moods.
If you're living in a cold northern climate, use a supplement of 5,000 IUs per day in the winter. Easy to remember because it comes in one 5,000 level small softgel that is so small it's a cinch to swallow. For more southern climates (or summer for us northern folks), use a supplement of 3,000 IUs per day year round. For this level use three of the 1,000 level softgels.
