Stuff You’ve Gotta Know About Vitamin D
Did you know that Vitamin D isn’t really a vitamin? It’s more like a hormone.
(It’s a precursor for the mineral calcium, which has more functions for human beings than any other mineral.)
Did you know that after you go in the sun, your body needs a few hours to convert the substances collected on your skin to Vitamin D in the body?
(Hardly anyone knows this. That’s why I’m writing this blog. It’s a tip that could actually be lifesaving.)
If you’re going to get Vita D from the sun, get regular exposure during daylight hours, and then don’t take a shower for several hours!
Tank up on it during the spring, summer, and fall. Then, during the winter, take 5,000 to 10,000 IU of D3. You got that? D3, not D2!
The most assimilable forms will be in olive oil capsules, rather than hard pills.
Too many of us get very little of it, because we’re office workers who never get outside, or we live in climates with intemperate weather much of the year.
Next post, I’m writing a little about THYROID hormone, which affects many if not most American women—and some men, too.
Posted in: Health Concerns, Holistic Care, Natural Remedies, Supplements, Whole Food
Thank you Robyn, it definitely feels overwhelming when there seems to be so many different perspectives from respected health professionals (such as Dr. McDougall on kidneys). I’m glad to know it would be difficult to “over dose” on plant protein and come to think of it, I probably get way too much protein, easily, from the chicken and beef I am eat almost everyday (which I am trying to decrease little by little). Thanks again.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. My oncologist said nearly ALL her cancer patients have severely low vitamin D. Mine was low as well. I have been hesitant to take synthetic supplements through my healing phase, so I have been sitting in the sun a minimum of 20 min. per day. I have been able to bring my level up to 35 which is on the low end of normal. Unfortuantely, I subjected my body to chemo, radiation and surgery, so that may have compromised my ability to bring the D level up more (naturally). I may add a supplement and see what happens.Thanks for all you do Robyn. I met you last year when you were in San Antonio. I have many friends drinking green smoothies 🙂
This might be a dumb question— does sunblock block Vit.D absorption ?
Toni, not a dumb question, and yes sunblock does block Vita D absorption.
Robyn, curious about your thoughts on sun exposure and melanoma. My doc says stay out of the sun, I disagree totally and believe it has more to do with my diet than sun exposure.
Robyn, did your grandmother who recovered from melanoma, continue to get sun exposure? If yes, did she limit it to early morning and just small amounts? Did she wear sunscreen? Just curious 🙂
Robyn, did you mean 5,000 to 10,000 IU of D3 per day in the winter months?
Wendy, yes.
Gosh, everybody. So easy. Stay out of the sun except for normal day to day coming and going. When you need to be exposed, wear sunscreen, big hats, good sun glasses, and resistant clothing. It’s so easy to take a D3 supplement. Cheap too, considering the alternative. Please take care.
I love this post! I take 5000 IU of liquid vitamin D everyday, the brand I use and love is Trace Minerals Research. Tastes great!
I prefer to stay away from animal products in all shapes and forms. It is my understnading that most D3 comes primarily from animal sources, but I’ve heard that it can be found in vegan format. Where do you get reliable vegan D3, and how do how do you know if a source is selling a reliable vegan D3 that will actually help, and not a substitute that will do no good?
Many times I have read stories about people who are taking Vitamin D that was prescribed to them by their PCP. They are taking huge doses once or twice a week due to a severe deficiency. Unfortunately, many physicians prescribe D2 instead of D3 – which is basically a waste of the patients time and money. Beware and check your Rx if you are taking Vitamin D (that was prescribed by your doctor) to see if you are taking D2 or D3. AS FOR WHAT BRAND??? – many people rave about Carlson’s but I’m not impressed with the list of ingredients on theirs. Check around and look at different brands – look over the list of ingredients very carefully – just my 2¢ worth. I brought my levels up from 32 to 54 using supplements.
I was taking the dry form of Vit d 3 which did nothing to elevate my D level until I did my research I found Country Life Brand 5,000 IU has no additives
a non fish source as Cholecalciferol and my D level is starting to rise, it does take quite some time to evevate to the level needed, I go in the sun but it is never enough to bring your level up to where it should be I don’t sell Country Life nor a spoke person do your research I did and found that Country Life so far is the best you want the product to be the VitaminD 3 at least 5000 IU soft gels Cholecalciferol – from lanolin
I truly believe that the correlation between vit. D is connected to cancer. My own personal belief was that my osteoporisis was connected to my breast cancer. I go to the Women’s Clinic in Alpine, Ut and they did a series of blood test on me and my vit. D was below normal. I was prescribed 10,000 IU for 6 months and will return to get tested again in December.
Robyn,
I appreciate you bringing to everyone’s attention to the lifesaving value of vitamin D. However, I do not agree with everything you stated. I am a registered dietitian and I have done several posts on my blog on vitamin D. Here is a link. http://www.thenourishista.com/search/label/Vitamin%20D Vitamin D does not wash out of our skin. It is made by the cells in our skin. Also, if people get adequate amounts of sun exposure during the spring and summer there is really no need to take supplements during the winter as it is stored in the liver. Depending on your skin type your skin can make adequate amounts in as little as 5 minutes. A wonderful book to read is by Dr. Holick, “The Vitamin D Solution.”
Julie, I think the jury’s still out about that—some evidence seems to show that you can “tank up” for the winter, and others that it’s not enough and supplements are needed. It’s not that Vitamin D washes off—it’s that the natural chemicals are manufactured, through the skin, for a few hours after exposure, and it helps to not wash for a few hours.
I’m lucky I live on Maui where there is plenty of free Vitamin D!
Robyn, Thanks for all you do for women. This is not the right blog site, BUT I was on your hormone site and am confused about whether to buy a progesterone cream or not because I had a total hysterectomy at age 40. I took Premarin for 5 years and went off of it and don’t take anything for the last 12 years. Since I dont’ have ovaries that produce estrogen, would I be estrogen-dominant? Rosalyn
Rosalyn, a good practitioner and blood or saliva testing would be needed to answer that. 🙂