Why people live in Vancouver need to take vitamin D ? All about vitamin D
People who need
- Vancouver Area : People who live above the 37th latitude obtain virtually no vitamin D from sunlight between November and March.
All about vitamin D
It is a fat soluble vitamin that has properties of both a vitamin and a hormone, is required for the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus.
Effect
- It is necessary for growth, and is especially important for the normal growth and development of bones and teeth in children.
- It protects against muscle weakness and is involved in regulation of the heart beat. It is also important in the prevention and treatment of breast and colon cancer, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and hypocalcemia.
- It enhances immunity, and it is necessary for thyroid function and normal blood clotting.
Summary
There are several forms: vitamin D2 which comes from food sources, Vitamin D3 which is synthesized in the skin exposed by the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and a Vitamin D5.
The form of D vitamin that we get from food or supplements is not fully active. It requires conversion by the liver, and then by the kidneys. This is why people with liver or kidney disorders are at a higher risk for osteoporosis.
When the skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, a cholesterol compound in the skin is transformed. Exposing the face and arms to the sun for fifteen minutes three times a week is an effective way to ensure adequate amounts of vitamin D in the body.
Side effect of Deficiency
Not getting enough vitamin D in the diet or from direct sunlight has been linked to the development of several diseases including heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and cancers such as breast and colon.
Food sources
- Butter, milk (dairy products), egg yolk, oatmeal and sweet potatoes, dandelion greens, shiitake
- Seafood: Fish liver oils, tuna, salmon, oyster
- Herbs: alfalfa, nettle and parsley
Recommended options
If you are unsure of the suitability of this supplement, Book an complementary phone appointment with one of our qualified healthcare practitioners.
Copyright. Prescription for nutritional healing 5th Edition.