What’s not to love about bright sunshiny
summer days? Here it is summer and some of us have been soaking up the rays
whether at the beach, the backyard, or while gardening. When ultraviolet rays
shine on our skin, it triggers a vitamin D synthesis.
When I was growing up, we did not
have an air conditioner at home, so naturally we spent a lot of time outdoors.
Times have changed, and air-conditioning is the norm. Now, we spend much more
time indoors under the comfort of air-conditioning during sunshiny summer days.
This lifestyle change has brought about
common deficiency of vitamin D in a huge portion of the population. Most of us
know that vitamin D deficiency has consequences. Without an adequate level of
it, we cannot absorb calcium which causes inadequate bone development in the
young and bone loss as we grow older. This is why milk is fortified with
vitamin D.
In addition to fortified milk, other
sources of the sunshine vitamin are oily fish (salmon, mackerel, bluefish, and
canned tuna). It is difficult to get enough vitamin D from food alone.
The natural source is sunlight, but
we have become afraid of the sun. We slather on sunscreen and avoid any exposure.
When we do this, we no longer absorb essential vitamin D. The very reason we
avoid the sun is to reduce the risk of cancer, but oddly enough, low levels of
vitamin D increases cancer rates. Low levels of the sunshine vitamin are also
linked to higher blood pressure, heart disease, and Type 1 diabetes in
children.
In addition to previously known
health issues associated with vitamin D deficiency, researchers have found a
link between vitamin D and Alzheimer’s risk. People with moderate deficiencies
of this essential vitamin have nearly a 70 percent higher risk of developing
Alzheimer’s disease. In severe deficiencies, this risk skyrockets to 122
percent.
Researchers believe that vitamin D helps
rid cells of beta-amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
One of the leading researchers in the study, David J. Llewellyn, University of
Exeter Medical School, said, “It seems to be that vitamin D was actually
helping to break down and take away those protein abnormalities.”
Doctor Michael Holick, Boston
University, who is an expert on vitamin D recommends stocking up on vitamin D
during the summer. He suggests five to ten minutes two or three times a week
outdoors between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. wearing minimal clothing and without
sunscreen except for the face. Sun deprived people, and breast fed infants,
should take a supplement.
Summer will soon be over, so now is
the time to stock up on the sunshine vitamin. Just remember, moderation,
moderation, moderation!
copyright © August 2014 by L.S.
Fisher
http://earlyonset.blogspot.com
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