Spending 20 minutes outdoors daily heightens INSULIN SENSITIVITY 54%, cutting your risk of Type 2 Diabetes 38%, suggests a HARVARD UNIVERSITY reeview of 21 studies. SUNSHINE revs your skin's production of vitamin D-3, a nutrient that switches on FIVE GENES essential for BLOOD-SUGAR CONTROL.
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VITAMIN D EASES ACHES--AND KEEPS BONES STRONG!
TAKING 1,000 IU OF vitamin D daily relieves achy joints and muscles, The Clinical Journal of Pain reports. "D is actually a hormone that balances our immune system and helps reduce inflammatiom, which is a major cause of pain and premature aging," confirms Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of Pain Free, 1,2,3.
STAY-YOUNG BONUS: D cuts the risk of OSTEOPOROSIS and several CANCERS!
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VITAMIN D FACTS
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is different from other vitamins because our bodies can make most of what we need with exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin D is more than a vitamin in that is acts as a pro-hormone and effects hormone balance and immune regulation of the body.
Most foods, unless they are fortified, are poor sources of vitamin D and there are only a small amount of vitamin D rich foods to choose from.
Vitamin D plays a role in calcium absorption into the bones.
A deficiency in vitamin D can result in a softening of the bones called osteomalacia or a bone abnormality called rickets.
Some of the biggest vitamin D deficiency symptoms include:
- Weakened immune system
- Seasonal depression
- Autoimmune disease
- Cancer
- Weak bones (osteopenia)
- Skin issues eczema and psoriasis
- Dementia
People most prone to a vitamin D deficiency include those who live in northern regions with little sunlight exposure, people with darker skin, people on low fat diets and those taking steroids and weight loss medications.
Vitamin D also helps with cell replication, and may play a role in the development of autoimmune conditions.
The RDA for vitamin D is 600 IU/day and the Daily Value is 400 IU.
