Vitamin D is one of the most important essential vitamins that plays a vital role in human physiology.
There is a world wide Vitamin D deficiency, over 1 billion people (and most of the populous eat fortified foods)
As most of us, if not all have moved away from processed foods which are heavily fortified with Vit D , we wish to bring to light the importance.
For an example there was studies done in India and vitamin D deficiency ranged from 40% to 99% , Most of these studies were in the range of 80% to 90%.
Most of us are aware of the relationship between Vitamin D and Skeletal complications such as Rickets as Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption. Rickets became a thing of the past since the fortification programme in the 1930s but there is light now being shone on the facts that it plays a huge role in autoimmune diseases, digestion/intestines, cardiovascular diseases, cancer , tuberculosis to name a few.
Our bodies inflammatory processes are related to low vitamin D and chronic inflammation leads to the development of serious health issues.
It is not widely known that vitamin D actually a prohormone which once converted in the body it makes hormones.
Every cell in the body has a receptor site which is involved in homeostatic processes.
Living a modern day lifestyle in clothes, indoors, working, cold climates can make it difficult for most people to get enough Vitamin D in the summer, in the winter if the sun is below the angle of 50° you cannot synthesise any from the UV-B rays at all,
This is from October to March in the UK there is no ability to convert sunlight to vitamin D..
Fortification in the most natural way is the best to avoid complications and deficiency.
Here are the symptoms of deficiency
SOURCES OF VITAMIN D
SUNLIGHT
When sunlight is at an angle above 50° you can make vitamin D from a cholesterol which converts UVB light into this powerful prohormone..
Try to ground and show as much skin as possible to the sun as a regular wholistic health practice, this is an incredible health miracle that will serve you so well.
1 to 2 hours in the sun you can make up to 20,000iu and for us and the experience we have been so lucky to have, the more sun the better.
But be sure to not burn and be sensible when outdoors.
Using sunscreen will block absorbing and will also lead to other health issues..
It's a personal choice but we do not use it and never will.
Coconut oil has a natural SPF of 10 and can be used for small children but always keep the shaded .
FOOD
Mushrooms
which are grown outdoors can be a good source of vitamin D
Oranges
Some studies show this incredible fruit contains vitamin D and there have been some which don't.
We love orange juice and we are you do, drinking daily is a wonderful way to get 6 of the b vitamins and possibly some vitamin D.
We will leave out the fortified meat, cereal and dairy products but they are also sources..
Supplements
There are 2 main supplements
VEGAN OPTION
Lichen - this Is found in woodlands on tree barks and are a complex life form that is symbiotic partnership of a mushroom like organism and a algae..
Lichen grows wild, is free from pesticides, herbicides and is our preferred recommended way of supplementing vit D.
NON VEGAN OPTION
Cholecalciferol - this is derived by processing by purifying the fat of lambs wool.
There is a possibility that one could use sunbeds to get vitamin D but we have not personally seen this and cannot guide to the safety, efficacy and frequency of use..
The UK's recommended dose of Vitamin D supplements are 400 iu daily, but this doesn't take into an account of deficiency and the loss of 90% through digestion which would leave just over 40iu over day .
In my opinion and many experts in this field this is very poor dosing and really is of very little benefit..
As we stated earlier 1-2 hours in sunlight provides 20,000iu..
It is good to note Vitamin D can be stored for around 1-2 months within the fat tissue of the body.
For a maintenance to a higher level of the spectrum we recommend 10,000 IU Vitamin D daily which would reduce down after digestion to just over 1100 iu
We have seen many beings not increase levels with oral 5000 IU daily but become stable at the lower end of the spectrum.
For chronic immune disorders great improvement has been seen in the region of 30,000 to 50,000 IU daily.
When taking Vit D supplements, due to the nature of aiding in calcium absorption we want to be able to put the calcium into the skeletal system, adding in vitamin K2 aids this process ..
If one is feeling any of the symptoms or just would like to be sure we recommend a blood test to check your levels to be sure.
We can honestly say IT IS SO COMMON AND MUST BE ADRESSED.
Vitamin D deficiency along with B12 are the main reasons people fail on w wholistic diet.
If you are low, injections as high as 150,000 iu can be administered weekly at the beginning to get levels higher and then maintained orally with 5-10,000 IU..
There are studies that tests have been done with 1,000,000 IU weekly for 6 months without adverse effects, but it is definitely a little too much.
Breast milk contains Vitamin D if the mother hass plenty herself, but make sure that our young children are in adequate sunlight and or supplemented at least through the winter months.
We see it so very often, that once clean of a b-abyl-on diet due to its heavy fortification programme deficiency can come on quite quickly so try to be diligent.
Nothing is better than the sunlight, it is the life force if every living organisms on earth.
Be unified with nature and nurture yourself.
Take care, be informed and make the best choices you can in each moment....
Have a beautiful day
Love and light