Vitamin D is becoming known now as the Super Vitamin, wowing researchers with its ability to prevent cancer and diabetes, as well as other health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, arthritis, high blood pressure, and autoimmune disorders. Vitamin D is actually part of the steroid family (including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol). A recent study found that women who lived in areas without sunlight (exposure to sunlight produces Vitamin D) were nine times more likely to get breast cancer than women who live in sunnier spots!

Sixty percent of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D. Your doctor will be able to test you for a deficiency with a simple blood test. An optimum level is above 35 ng/mL. The daily recommended value is about 2,200 IU a day with some sun exposure of about fifteen to twenty minutes a day. Some researchers suggest as much as 5,000 IU every day during the winter when sunshine is at its lowest levels. If you choose to take it as a supplement, make sure you take D3, which is the same type of Vitamin D your body produces. Foods that are rich in Vitamin D are milk, cold-water fish, and egg yolk.

Tina Turbin

Email Us | Email to a Friend

Tags: Advice, Aging, anti-aging, Baby Boomers, diet, Health, nutrition, tina turbin, Tina Turbin researcher, Vitamin D, vitamins, women, Women's Health

Rate this Article

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...