108
|
WINTER
2017
For several years
themediahas been informingus about how important vitamin
D is for immune support andbonehealth. You'reprobablyveryawareof theseassociations
andmaybe taking the vitamindaily for these very reasons. So rather than repeatwhat you
have already read elsewhere, I thought it wouldbe good to share some other interesting
thingsabout vitaminD that oftenmakemypatientsexclaim "I never knew that!”
Somesignsyoumaybe low inVitaminD...
1.
Achey/soremuscles or joints,whichareworse inwinter.
2.
Sweatyhead.
3.
Flare-upof
yourautoimmunecondition.
4.
Poorblood sugar regulation, including insulin resistanceand
Type-2Diabetes.
5.
Lowmood - alsoknownasSeasonalAffectiveDisorder (SAD).
6.
Frequent coldsor flus.
Factors thatcan increaseyourneed forVitaminD...
1.
SkinColour: genetically speaking, if youaredark skinnedand living inanorthernclimate
you likely have fewer receptors for this vitamin.
2.
Increasingage: asweageour skinpro-
ducesD less efficiently, asdoour kidneys.
3.
Gall bladder hasbeen removed: this organ is
important for storingandconcentratingbile, adigestive substance that helpsyouabsorb fat
and fat-solublenutrients suchasvitaminsD,A,E,Kandessential fattyacids.
4.
Gutproblems
likeCrohn's,Celiac, non-celiacgluten sensitivity,and IBScanalso impact yourbody'sability
toabsorb fats.
5.
Kidneyor liverdisease: only the first step invitaminDproductionoccurs in
your skin—it thenhas tobeconverted to itsmoreactive form in theseorgans.
6.
Really lowcholesterol: vitaminD isactuallya
hormone,and likemanyotherhormones it isbuilt
uponacholesterolmolecule.
7.
Covering your skin in SPF lotions: these can
block the vitaminD stimulating rays from reach-
ingyour skin.
SincevitaminD isa fat-solublenutrient, itwill be
mostefficientlyabsorbedwhen takenalongwith
other fats, suchas ameal that contains fats like
avocado, oils, fish,meatsor eggs.
Howmuch isenough?
There is no singleanswer for this. Theonlyway
to know is by having your blood tested. I have
seen a hobby gardener coveredwith abroad
hat and long sleeves haveadequate vitaminD
and I havealso seenawomanwho spends her
summers on the deck of her boat bronzing her
skinwho has less than
1/4
of what she should
have.To trulyknow ifyouare takingenoughyou
need tohaveyourblood tested.AskyourNDor
MD toorder the test - the investment is$55.
I recommend testingat2 times in theyear; inAu-
gust, to seehowefficientlyyourbody isproduc-
ingD from sunshineexposure, and in February
to see if youare supplementingenough tocarry
you throughourwintermonths.
Areyoumakingenough?!
|E|
DR. SHELBYWORTS, ND
...now for
something
completely
different.
wel l being
VitaminD
