Are you getting enough Vitamin D?

What does Vitamin D do?

Benefits: 1. REGULATING THE ABSORPTION OF CALCIUM
FROM FOOD.
2. AIDS IN NERVE FUNCTION
3. AIDS IN IMMUNE FUNCTION.
4. MAY HELP PREVENT CANCER

How it Works: Without Vitamin D calcium levels would be off. Therefore, all the things that calcium is used for such as strong bones and teeth, nerve functioning, and muscle contractions all depend on Vitamin D. Active Vitamin D is really a hormone called 1-25 dihydroxycholecaliferol. Because a hormone is a drug, and it is not safe to put drugs in foods, the Vitamin D we get is a precursor. In order for it to be activated, a person needs to expose their sking to sunlight and have adequate amounts of Magnesium which is needed as a cofactor. That is why most good supplements will have a Calcium to Magnesium ratio of 2:1. People in more northern climates are more prone to colon cancer. This very well may be because of decreased sunlight exposed to the skin and less active Vitamin D.

"Recently, research also suggests vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases."(from www.mayoclinic.com)

One of the reason's people lack sufficient vitamin D is because using most sunblock products blocks the UVB (ultraviolet b rays from the sun) which are needed for the body to produce vitamin D. When this happens, the body becomes more vulnerable to cancer than if no sunblock is used at all!

Sources: Sun exposure. Good food sources of Vitamin D are canned sardines, fresh salmon, shrimp, fresh herring, cod liver oil, fresh mackeral, liver, eggs, and fortified milk.

Recommendations: The MINIMUM requirement for Vitamin D in children up to 18 years old is 5 mcg/day. The MINIMUM for adults between 19 and 50 is is 5 mcg/day. The MINIMUM for adults 51-70 is 10 mcg/day. The MINIMUM for adults 70 and over is 15 mcg/day. Finally the MINIMUM for pregnant and nursing women is 5 mcg/day.

We are offering a very good Vitamin D supplement at our office for only $10.00 (this comes out to .10cents per day). If you think you are not getting enough vitamin D in your diet, or through sun exposure, come by our office to pick up a bottle.

Dr. Eric
You Santa Monica Chiropractor

Bay Chiropractic and Rehabilitation