An ancient Greek history writer once commented on a battle between the Persians and Egyptians that occurred thousands of years ago in the deserts of the
Middle East. Many lives were lost and the soldier’s bodies just lie on the desert sands with out burial. The Greek writer mentions that for years after, the skulls of the Egyptians were still hard while the Persians’ skulls were crumbling into dust. The ancient writer’s observations were that the Persians never bared their head to the sun, while the Egyptians did, thus the resulting differences.
Did the Greek writer understand about Sunlight and Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is formed by the human body when skin is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays.
It is now December 22, 2007 and across much of North America people are heavily clothed whenever they venture out doors due to the Cold weather. For over 6-7 months out of the year most people living in the northern latitudes can not expose their skin to the sunlight that they need for vitamin D production.
In northern cities such as Boston or New York, there just aren't enough UVB rays to form Vitamin D during the fall and winter months, even if people could walk around outside only in shorts and a tee shirt.
Due to the Lifestyle habits of many modern Americans, even when it is warm enough to be outside getting their required daily dose of Vitamin D from the sun, they don’t.
It has been estimated that most Americans spend over 90% of their time indoors!!!
One of the consequences of these lifestyle habits, is that over 50% of adults over age 50 in the United States, are estimated to be at risk of vitamin D deficiency. One Health study, done at the end of the summer, found that in Boston, MA:
· 30% of whites,
· 42% of Hispanics and
· 84% of African-Americans had vitamin D deficiency.
There are two major types of vitamin D:
- Vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol, is the type made in the body in response to sun exposure and found in certain foods.
- Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is the form most used in supplements. It's the one used to fortify milk and other foods.
For your body to use both types of vitamin D, it must first be converted in the liver and kidneys to the active form, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D.
Here are the recommendations for vitamin D intake from the Institute of Medicine:
- Birth to 50 years -- 200 IU (5 mcg)
- Between 51 and 70 years -- 400 IU (10 mcg)
- Over 71 years -- 600 IU (15 mcg)
- Pregnant and nursing women -- 200 IU (5 mcg)
The safe upper limit of vitamin D is:
· 2,000 IU (50 mcg) for men and women.
· 1,000 IU (25 mcg). For infants up to 12 months of age.
In a recent study, there was found a 7% reduction in deaths when the average Vitamin D intake was about 500 IU per day instead of the currently recommended 200 IU.
Balance the above recommendations against this:
Exposure of most of the body surface to direct sunlight for more than an hour will enable a healthy human body to generate blood serum levels of Vitamin D that would require thousands of IU’s of Vitamin D!!
Current studies have found that vitamin D insufficiency is widespread in the general USA population. Vitamin D plays a vital role in bone health and the prevention and treatment of the following health conditions:
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Depression
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Polycystic ovary disease
- Gum disease
- Psoriasis
Seasonal affective disorder, or that cooped up feeling, that many people experience at the onset of Fall and Winter is a physiological challenge that responds well to:
- Full Spectrum Lighting inside the home and office
- And Vitamin D supplementation
When spring does come to those who live in the cold north, get out into the Sun more often, preferably to breathe fresh air, exercise and to get a free dose of Vitamin D.
For those who are concerned about exposure to sun due to possible cancer risks visit:
http://www.essentialfats.blogspot.com/
Where you can learn more about how Essential fats are natures way of protecting the skin while it generates Vitamin D from the Sun light.
Another website to visit related to the Alkaline Lifestyle is www.pHTest.us.
If you liked “Super Size Me” you will want to watch “King Corn”! It will build up your confidence for living an Alkaline Lifestyle and give you the facts to educate your friends and family. American’s future Health depends on a return to smaller farms that produce food, not industrial products. The movie King Corn is Great tool to educate yourself and others on the:
