Vitamin D Sources Information

 By Cathy F
Seems like everywhere we turn there's an article on some new piece of Vitamin D information and its sources. The sun, supplements (powder mix, tabs, liquid), fortified foods (check labels) and food sources such as eggs come to mind straight away.

Odd sources:
• Mushrooms (no Vitamin A)
• Sunflower seeds ("sun-filled", soak overnight and use ground)
Herbal & food sources:
• Alfalfa
• Basil
• Bee pollen
• Fenugreek
• Irish moss
• Mullein
• Papaya
• Sarsaparilla
• Thyme
• Watercress
The usual sources may include cod-liver oil but new findings are looking at data more critically these days because early indicators are not positive for the high levels of Vitamin A.

What's amazing is that we live in a time where pristine facilities and great minds of the day put their heads together and we're right on the edge of linked data where, soon, anyone can ask a new question then pull information from many internet sites.

Today natural researchers, like you, are out there gathering the latest finds and putting them together to make an informed decision, especially on D sources. For example, the big news lately is how Vitamin A competes with Vitamin D in the body so you can use a NutritionData calculator and find listings (high in one factor, low in another). For instance, within the fish category you will search and find that halibut happens to have much more D than A.

To cover the point "why?" we say: because it gives an almost immediate end to chronic pain. That is due to the anti-inflammatory aspect of Vitamin D by its activation in the kidneys and liver to receptors in every cell of your body. Further, what is little understood is that Vitamin D, although fat soluble, can be made to be water soluble and helps with your respiration, too. If you have poor metabolism then D must be part of your healthy game plan for its action on the thyroid and this area, which controls your weight.

"How?" is a question that not everybody asks because the world is suffering from information over load. But the answer to this particular query is "It depends..." on the source.

New under-the-tongue sprays bypass the kidneys and liver which is good news for some of us. This gives you a very quick usable source, which is another good reason to monitor your blood levels, and keep a journal on the state of your personal health. Otherwise you will waste your hard-earned cash. Most people will not need to concern themselves here because every organ is in good working order so you can begin with gradual sun exposure. Also, certain kinds of lights hung over the back of your door gives clean, easy and fast UVB rays. That is an investment worth checking out (around $1,000).

Naturally we're asking "where?" because, just like real estate, location is everything if you will be working on absorbing the precious sun's rays into your yearly regimen (to build up stores). Speaking of location some of us have the luxury of getting our sun on a daily basis, and the darker your skin the longer the time you ought to spend in the sun. The further away from the equator then the higher the concern for alternate sources of Vitamin D must be. Remember: uncover the areas usually covered by a full set of clothing, but cover up face, hands and upper neck to avoid photo-aging on this always-exposed skin.

The Worlds Healthiest Foods is non-profit so I like to look there for ideas about super foods and they recommend Sockeye salmon and explain that this fish has a diet of zooplankton which brings us right back to the sun and photo-synthesis once again.

The typical source for Vitamin D supplements would be raw sheep's wool placed under ultra-violet B lights to create cholecalciferol, a superior form (D3). Make sure you find pharmaceutical grade Vitamin D3 from North America, Europe and the commonwealth sources where standards are high. No sense in risking your health for possible toxins and no need for sugar so watch out for that, too.

Some people under care are given temporary directions to take low anti-biotics for eighteen months to completely rid themselves of L-form bacteria (without a cell wall) first before going forward with the benefits of sun play, and will need to wear sunglasses and avoid all sources for a while, so it helps to know your sources.

In summary, Vitamin D information is becoming abundant so find out your Vitamin D blood levels and what that means to you in particular to make an informed decision.

Vitamin D Supplementation

 By Jon Le Tocq
Vitamin D is a highly underrated supplement in many cases. Unfortunately, those who know of its importance are trying to source it from the wrong places!
Isolating nutrients ignores the fact that they work much more like a well-oiled production factory where synergy is the key and the sum is much, much greater than its parts.

Take out one of them and the whole machine become much less effective. Your body will still work but you may never know just how energetic and strong your body could be!

Vitamin D production occurs in the skin following exposure to the UV rays in sunlight. In some ways it functions more like a hormone than a vitamin as it is produced in one part of the body but used in another.
Whilst we can obtain Vitamin D from certain fish oils and supplements as well as fortified milk, these forms are nowhere near as effective as sunlight - yet another reason to use the natural source before the scientific version!

Once the Vitamin D has been produced in the skin it travels down to the liver where it is converted into a substance known as a metabolite which is the human body's storage form of Vitamin D (like keeping it in storage until we need it!)

When our body needs Vitamin D, some of this storage form is transported to the kidneys and converted into another Vitamin D metabolite but this time it is around 1000 times more powerful than the previous stored form. T.Campbell refers to this as the 'supercharged Vitamin D'.

Now that we have some supercharged Vitamin D ready for use, why is it so important?
One key job for Vitamin D is to prevent healthy cells becoming diseased which can lead to any number of diseases resulting from cell degeneration including all forms of cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Obviously poor nutrition is also a factor but this is likely to be one of the reasons why there is a marked increase in the incidence of such diseases the further you travel from the equator.

As always, the truth is that it is the combination rather than one factor that causes problems. An acidic diet too high in protein and chemically-enhanced 'food' may reduce the effectiveness of the kidneys in producing the supercharged Vitamin D so even if you get lots of sun, your diet could prevent you fully utilising the benefits of Vitamin D.

Along the same lines, Vitamin D aids apoptosis (natural cell death) rather than allowing the growth and proliferation of diseased and potentially cancerous cells.

Vitamin D is also essential in reducing the risk of heart disease.

We know now that Vitamin D is essential for liver function. As the liver produces bile which aids in the digestion of fats, a deficiency of Vitamin D may lead to high levels of fat in the blood vessels, ultimately increasing your risk of heart disease.

It is also common knowledge that disruption of normal insulin production leads to diabetic conditions, but what role does Vitamin D play in the onset of diabetes?

Insulin is produced by the beta cells in the pancreas and as they have Vitamin D receptors to make them work, it follows that a lack of direct sunlight could contribute to the development of diabetic conditions where nutrition is also poor.

Vitamin D has also been shown to aid the production of natural steroid hormones in the human body thus aiding muscle growth. This will clearly effect everything from strength and power to burning body fat more efficiently.

Also, Vitamin D is important in calcium absorption in the body (remember how we can't isolate nutrients). A Vitamin D deficiency can therefore lead to weaker bones thus increasing the risk of injury (as well as osteoporosis) and enabling your body to cope with heavy weightlifting sessions.

Now you know how critical Vitamin D is to your overall health and athletic performance, how much do you need and what's the best way to get enough?

Recommendations generally suggest that athletes require 400-1000 IU of Vitamin D per day (approximately 20mg to 45mg)
 This can be achieved easily by exposing as much skin as possible to the sun for 10-20 minutes per day.

However, you should note that it is the UVB rays from sunlight which are required for Vitamin D production but...

1) UVB rays are blocked by cloud and pollution so don't assume just going outside your office in the city is enough.
2) UVB rays are only effective when the sun's rays are at particular angles - namely between 10am and 2pm.
3) These rays are blocked by sunscreen along with the 'burning' UVA rays.
So your best bet is to expose your skin WITH NO SUNSCREEN for 10-20 minutes EVERY DAY then cover up. Should you wish to be out in the sun more (as we all do on holiday), apply sunscreen at other times to prevent burning and increased risk of skin cancer.

If this is not possible or practical (taking your shirt off at your conference may not go down well...) look to increase your intake of fish oils, eat more fish and take a Vitamin D supplement aiming for 30-45mg per day.

Vitamin D Pain Treatment

By Ryan C Marshall

By an added consumption of Vitamin D, pain can be relieved to a great extent, researches pronounce. At least 8 out of every 10 people experience pain in one form or the other in their span of life. The symptoms and causes of pain however, differ from person to person. A deficiency of Vitamin D is a cause for many forms of pain, the most common among which is muscle pain. You may feel that this deficit of vitamin D is rare. In that case, you will be surprised to know that in a recent study concentrating on the six regions of the world, namely Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, Middle East and Oceania, the results have revealed that vitamin D concentrations lower than 75 nmol/L were rather common.

Vitamin D Pain Relif Overview
Vitamin D is also known as the 'sunshine vitamin'. This is because the skin makes vitamin D when exposed to sunrays. It is then broken down by the kidney into active chemicals that function as hormones. Vitamin D is very important to help the body absorb calcium from food and retain it. Calcium is integral to bone health. Lack of Vitamin D can cause many problems, including pain and discomfort. Researches show that people with long-term pain are usually deficit in vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency may be due to:

• Lack of exposure to sun
• Body not absorbing vitamins correctly
• Lack of Vitamin D in the diet

With an intake of extra quantity of vitamin D, pain can be made to reduce. It relieves muscle pain, joint pain and pain in bones and back pain.
Kinds Of Pain Treated:
Consuming Vitamin D is useful for treating chronic pains like:

• Fibromyalgia: The muscular pain and weakness experienced by patients of fibromyalgia is often related to lack of vitamin D in the body. This however does not mean that the disease is rooted in this deficiency. It is functional in aggravating the symptoms.
• Osteoarthritis: It is the most common form of arthritis. Lack of vitamin D in body hampers the process of absorption of calcium. This in turn results in osteoarthritis. Low intake of vitamin D can increase this risk.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: It is a chronic inflammatory disorder. It mainly affects tissues, organs and synovial joints. Consumption of vitamin D is very important to patients suffering from this disease.
• Myalgia: It means 'muscle pain'. Myalgia is the symptom of many disorders and diseases. Studies have revealed that almost 28% of patients have severe inadequacy of vitamin D.
• Diabetic neuropathy: It involves serious pain. An Australian research has revealed that vitamin D deficiency is common in patients suffering from type II diabetes. Vitamin D supplementation is an effective way to treat this problem.

Since all these diseases engage painful conditions and in some way or the other, are triggered off by inadequate supply of vitamin D in the body, increased intake of vitamin D can help treat it.
Treatment Process
Treating pain with Vitamin D is cost-effective. You can consult your physician for advice. Along with other medicines and therapies, if one continues to have proper Vitamin D levels, pain will be mitigated to a good extent. Vitamin D supplements are available in two forms mainly: vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. Vitamin D3 is more effective in treating chronic pain. You can easily get them in online stores.
Vitamin D Pain Treatment Effects
Vitamin D is known to treat the possible source of pain and not the pain itself. You have to maintain your patience because it takes time to work. The relief is not instant. Research says that even if the pain treatment procedure is not very successful, you will definitely notice the following improvements:

• The pain is reduced at least by some degree
• You experience pain less frequently
• You have to take less number of pain killers than before
• Lessening of fatigue
• Your overall health improves

Thus, we find, the vitamin D pain cure method is effective when supported by regular therapies. It is not an immediate medicine but it is definitely helpful when supplemented over time.

How Vitamin D Affects Penis Well Being

By John Dugan

Known as the sunshine Vitamin D is rarely found in foodstuffs and never in large quantities. Vitamin D is actually a hormone vital to the body for sustained health and wellbeing.

Forms of Vitamin D which are gained from foodstuffs, such as Vitamins D2 and D3, are converted into their active forms after receiving exposure from UV-B light from the sun. Not getting enough sunlight, consistently eating foods lacking in vitamins and minerals, and wearing (if the climate calls for it) high factor sun block all the time may lead to a Vitamin D deficiency. Scientific studies report that a deficiency in Vitamin D may be one of the causes of male sexual dysfunction and low fertility.

Vitamin D and Testosterone
According to research from the Medical University of Graz, Austria, Vitamin D increases testosterone levels in men. In a study, 160 overweight men were given Vitamin D for 12-months in order to test the effects of the nutrient on their hormonal levels. By the end of the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the men who were given 3,332 IU of Vitamin D daily had significantly greater testosterone levels than those given placebo. Through increasing male hormone levels, men should experience increasing energy, vitality, libido and sexual performance. Supplementing the body with artificial testosterone can be both dangerous and expensive. Natural products, such as Vitamin D which increase testosterone production are by far more preferable for the majority of men out there who want to safely improve hormonal balance.

Secret Cause of Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction and impotence are complicated conditions with many possible causes; physical, hormonal and psychological. Compared to other forms of treatment, Vitamin D is one of the few vitamins to work on all of these causes. Vitamin D has a remarkable effect on the production of nitric oxide (NO); a chemical responsible for the dilation of blood vessels in the penis. Studies on animals have shown that Vitamin D-deficient animals produce half the amount of normal NO, when compared to animals with normal Vitamin D levels. Scientists from the Sunlight Institute, USA have also found that Vitamin D is effective in the treatment of erectile dysfunction associated with cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and heart attack. Vitamin D is a powerful protector for the entire cardiovascular system, including the penis, and supplementing with Vitamin D has been proven to reduce the risk of death by cardiovascular disease by 61%.

The SAD Winter Blues
It's hard to have that get up and go feeling when you feel down. Depression in men is a common and very powerful cause for low libido and erectile dysfunction. While in many cases depression is psychogenic and is purely emotional in nature, for many men the cause is nutritional. Over the winter months it is more common for people to feel blue, and one of the reasons for this is the declining Vitamin D status in the body from reduced sun exposure. When winter blues become so serious as to require a clinical diagnosis, it is termed as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

Vitamin D supplementation is often the primary treatment for men suffering from SAD. In addition, scientists from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran found that Vitamin D combined with anti-depressants was a more effective treatment for patients with major depression than medication alone. So to bring the spring back into your step, lighten your mood, and improve the action between the sheets, Vitamin D may well be just what the doctor ordered.

Penis Health Crèmes
Penis health crèmes are therapeutic products designed to support the connective tissues, circulation and performance of the penis. It is not advisable to use most types of artificial chemicals found in creams and soaps on the penis, as the skin cells are highly sensitive. Specialist male crèmes (most professionals recommend Man1Man Oil) use nutrients, such as Vitamin D, in a shea butter base for fast absorption. This takes the nutrients directly to the tissues that require them, supporting hormone production, blood vessel health and nerve sensitivity. For men who want to improve penis health the natural and safe way, using penis health crèmes as a primary source of Vitamin D will support the entire reproductive system in a holistic fashion.