The D vitamin is the only vitamin that is not obtained from foods that are consumed. Instead, the D vitamin is actually obtained by sunlight on the skin. There has been a lot of media coverage about the dangers of getting too much sun but it is essential that the skin is exposed to sunlight to obtain the recommended daily allowance of the D vitamin. In reality, the amount of time that a person has to spend in the sun to receive a sufficient dose of the D vitamin is extremely small and just a few minutes a day will be sufficient and not have any adverse effects from the amount of ultra-violet light received.

The most important function of the D vitamin is to help control how much calcium is absorbed from food. The majority of the calcium is used to build strong teeth and bones but it is also needed to send messages along the nerves and to help muscles, such as the heart muscles, to contract. It is the D vitamin that ensures that there is always sufficient calcium in the blood to perform these tasks. Other functions that require the D vitamin relate to the immune system and it is believed that it is also a contributing factor in reducing the risk of contracting cancer and, in particular, colon cancer.

The variant of the D vitamin that is formed under the skin is known as vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. This D vitamin is created when the ultraviolet in the sunlight reacts with a type of cholesterol that is found under the skin naturally. The D3 is converted into a more active form of the d vitamin in the liver and is then diverted to where it is needed the most. Some of the D vitamin remains in the liver and kidneys to help reabsorb the calcium from the blood. The rest of the D vitamin is dispersed to the bones to help them retain their calcium and the intestines to aid absorption of calcium from food.

Even though the majority of the D vitamin is formed through the exposure of the skin to sunlight there are some foods that do contain some of the vitamin naturally. This form of the D vitamin is known as vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol. This is used in the same way as the other D vitamins and is the type used to create the majority of D vitamin supplements.

By: Jake Saab

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Information on vitamin b17 can be found at the Vitamin Information site.

Without sun, Vitamin D nutritional supplements may be needed

In contrast, during the summer months, when the sun is at an optimal angle, people are able to convert sunshine into a sufficient amount of vitamin D with just 15 minutes of exposure per day.

Vitamin D and Immunity: Is the Sunshine Vitamin a Therapeutic Agent?
Everyone knows that vitamin D prevents rickets. Increasingly, scientists are learning of its role in regulating immunity and preventing some forms of cancer.

Vitamin D research may have doctors prescribing sunshine
The vitamin is D, nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” because the skin makes it from ultraviolet rays. Sunscreen blocks its production, but dermatologists and health agencies have long preached that such lotions are needed to prevent skin [...]

How Sunshine And Vitamin D Help Eliminate Mercury
How Sunshine And Vitamin D Help Eliminate Mercury. Accumulating data have provided evidence that vitamin D is involved in brain function. Vitamin D can inhibit the synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase and increase glutathione [...]

Affiliate Disclosure: It is advisable to assume that any mention of a product or service on this website is made because there exist, unless otherwise stated, a material connection between the product or service owners and this website and should you make a purchase of a product or service described here the owner of this website may be compensated.  To learn more, please click here.

Home |  Contact |  About |  Privacy Policy |  Sitemap

Technorati Tags: natural source of vitamin d, vitamin d and calcium absorption, vitamin d functions, vitamin d uses

Yes, the best way to get all the nutrients your body needs is through whole foods. That should be easy right? Our culture of fast and convenient foods means that we are eating a lot of processed foods that don’t contain enough of the nutrients we need.

As a result, nutritional supplements are big business because we know we aren’t eating right. Even in developed countries like the United States it is still possible to become deficient in important nutrients. Illness, poor diet and environment can all create deficiencies. Here are the signs and symptoms associated with a deficiency in specific vitamins:

A - A lack of this can create problems with vision, particularly night-time sight. It can also cause the conjunctivitis of the eye to thicken or form milky white spots. If you take a nutritional supplement for A, be aware that it is fat soluble which means it stays in the body longer making it easier to take too much.

Thiamine (B1) -  This is an example of how poor diet and illness can create deficiencies. Alcoholics commonly lack enough thiamine. Beriberi is the disease that results and it attacks the nervous and cardiovascular systems of the body. Memory acuity and muscle control are greatly compromised. Edema and congestive heart failure are also a risk. B vitamins are water-soluble so they pass through the body faster than fat-soluble ones. It also means that you don’t have to take these nutritional supplements with food. However, you may have to take more of it throughout the day as opposed to one dose with a meal.

D- Sunlight helps the body produce its own D, but dangers of skin cancer have more and more people covering up. Luckily, most dairy foods have D added to it. But, if there is a deficiency, osteoporosis is an increased risk. Vitamin D facilitates the absorption of the calcium in the body and without it; bones lose out on the calcium they need. There is also a correlation to depression and fatigue. Research has shown that a D nutritional supplement works to alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder or SAD. Vitamin D is fat-soluble so, again, it stays in the body longer making it more possible to take too much.

C- Not enough C affects collagen production in the body. Collagen is a major building block for bones and tissue to it is essential. Because it facilitates the absorption of iron, a lack of C may cause you to become iron deficient anemic. C is water-soluble, so like the B vitamins, it passes through the body rather quickly and may require you to stagger your nutritional supplement dosing throughout the day to maintain good levels.

B12- It is essential to red blood cell production and proper functioning of the nervous system. It is found in the liver. Vegetarians and people with autoimmune diseases are at risk of a deficiency. Anemia is the result when the body is low on red blood cells. Fatigue, weakness, numbness and reduced mental acuity are all symptoms of a deficiency. Because it is water-soluble, regular dosing may be necessary to maintain proper levels, particularly if you fall into the at-risk categories above.

Before taking any nutritional supplements, it is a good idea to talk with your doctor. If you are concerned about deficiencies, he can test you and then prescribe a proper dosing schedule. It is possible to take much of a good thing, so read the dosing instructions on the bottle and follow your doctor’s recommendations.

By: Andrew Stratton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

There are signs and symptoms associated with a deficiency in specific vitamins. Fatigue, weakness, numbness and reduced mental acuity are all symptoms of a deficiency of vitamin B12. Taking a herbal nutrition supplement can help avoid such symptoms. Visit www.goodelements.com.

The Happiness Zone: Happiness Vitamin D

Here are some of the vitamin D functions: 1.) Supports key mineral absorption and metabolism (especially calcium and phosphorus in the blood and bones). 2.) Regulates normal cell differentiation [...]

The role of Vitamin D in beta-cell function

PhD Title: “The role of vitamin D in beta cell function” PhD Institution: Garvan Institute of Medical Research / University of Sydney, Australia.

Vitamin D deficiency in infants

Once believed to be important only for bone health, vitamin D is now seen as having a critical function in maintaining the immune system throughout life.

Vitamin D: Not the Average Vitamin

Even though it is called a vitamin, vitamin D actually functions more as a hormone in the body.

Q&A on Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D

Bottom line: The general consensus among members of the Vitamin D Council is that there is too much vitamin A in cod liver oil, enough to increase deleterious effects on .

Affiliate Disclosure: It is advisable to assume that any mention of a product or service on this website is made because there exist, unless otherwise stated, a material connection between the product or service owners and this website and should you make a purchase of a product or service described here the owner of this website may be compensated.  To learn more, please click here.

Home |  Contact |  About |  Privacy Policy |  Sitemap

Technorati Tags: d nutrition vitamin, natural source of vitamin d, vitamin d and depression, vitamin d functions, vitamin d uses