Vitamin D and What You Need to Know!
I am being bombarded with journal articles and research that undeniably state the roll of Vitamin D in cancer prevention. I have lectured and written on this topic before especially when it comes to supporting your immune system but I will now continue to further engrain this topic into your head. It just may save your life.
Vitamin D3 supplementation is probably one of the most important things you can do to protect you body from disease. Its effects on genes are so powerful that a deficiency in Vitamin D over an extended period of time has been associated with 17 types of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, as well as chronic pain and a wealth of other modern chronic diseases.
But most important is its powerful effect on the immune system. Adequate levels of Vitamin D in the body have been shown to increase the body's natural supply of what are called “Antimicrobial Peptides” (AMP's). These are small fragments of amino acids, the building blocks of protein that have very beneficial effects on the immune system's ability to fight against several types of germs including viruses and bacteria.
Study after study suggests current rates of cancer in this country could be reduced dramatically by taking 5,000 to 10,000 units daily. Research has also shown that Vitamin D3 supplementation provides protection from the flu — yes, even swine flu.
Based on the most recent research, the current recommendation for dosage is 35 IU’s of vitamin D per pound of body weight. So for a child weighing 40 pounds, the recommended average dose would be 1,400 IU’s daily, and for a 170-pound adult, the dose would be nearly 6,000 IU’s.
However, it’s important to realize that vitamin D requirements are highly individual, as your vitamin D status is dependent on numerous factors, such as the color of your skin, your location, and how much sunshine you’re exposed to on a regular basis. Being from Western New York or anywhere near the Great Lakes predisposes us to Vitamin D deficiency.
Thankfully, most doctors are now testing for Vitamin D levels in their patients. The correct test your doctor needs to order is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is the better marker of overall D status. This is the marker that is most strongly associated with overall health. The “normal” 25-hydroxyvitamin D lab range is between 20-56 ng/ml. Experts now feel that anything below 32ng/ml is considered a severe deficiency that will ultimately increase your risk for ALL cancer types and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, Type II Diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis just to name a few.
The OPTIMAL value that you’re looking for is 50-75 ng/ml. Anything above 120 ng/ml is considered too high and I personally have yet to see this, even on those taking 10,000 IU per day. This range applies for everyone; children, adolescents, adults and seniors.
Vitamin D3 is so easy to take. My favorite form is in an olive oil base. One drop provides 2000 IU. I commonly recommend 3-5 drops daily. This appears to raise blood levels far better that the prescribed dose of 50,000 IU per week that is often prescribed by many healthcare practitioners — including myself.
Even if Western New York was the sunny part of the country, I would still continue to take my daily dose of Vitamin D3. The protection is priceless!
Vitamin D3 supplementation is probably one of the most important things you can do to protect you body from disease. Its effects on genes are so powerful that a deficiency in Vitamin D over an extended period of time has been associated with 17 types of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, as well as chronic pain and a wealth of other modern chronic diseases.
But most important is its powerful effect on the immune system. Adequate levels of Vitamin D in the body have been shown to increase the body's natural supply of what are called “Antimicrobial Peptides” (AMP's). These are small fragments of amino acids, the building blocks of protein that have very beneficial effects on the immune system's ability to fight against several types of germs including viruses and bacteria.
Study after study suggests current rates of cancer in this country could be reduced dramatically by taking 5,000 to 10,000 units daily. Research has also shown that Vitamin D3 supplementation provides protection from the flu — yes, even swine flu.
Based on the most recent research, the current recommendation for dosage is 35 IU’s of vitamin D per pound of body weight. So for a child weighing 40 pounds, the recommended average dose would be 1,400 IU’s daily, and for a 170-pound adult, the dose would be nearly 6,000 IU’s.
However, it’s important to realize that vitamin D requirements are highly individual, as your vitamin D status is dependent on numerous factors, such as the color of your skin, your location, and how much sunshine you’re exposed to on a regular basis. Being from Western New York or anywhere near the Great Lakes predisposes us to Vitamin D deficiency.
Thankfully, most doctors are now testing for Vitamin D levels in their patients. The correct test your doctor needs to order is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is the better marker of overall D status. This is the marker that is most strongly associated with overall health. The “normal” 25-hydroxyvitamin D lab range is between 20-56 ng/ml. Experts now feel that anything below 32ng/ml is considered a severe deficiency that will ultimately increase your risk for ALL cancer types and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, Type II Diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis just to name a few.
The OPTIMAL value that you’re looking for is 50-75 ng/ml. Anything above 120 ng/ml is considered too high and I personally have yet to see this, even on those taking 10,000 IU per day. This range applies for everyone; children, adolescents, adults and seniors.
Vitamin D3 is so easy to take. My favorite form is in an olive oil base. One drop provides 2000 IU. I commonly recommend 3-5 drops daily. This appears to raise blood levels far better that the prescribed dose of 50,000 IU per week that is often prescribed by many healthcare practitioners — including myself.
Even if Western New York was the sunny part of the country, I would still continue to take my daily dose of Vitamin D3. The protection is priceless!
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