Why Vitamin D can help you lose weight?

Let’s look at Vitamin D, It’s another fat soluble Vitamin and we are only now finding out how crucial it is to our health and well-being.
I have been hearing so much about it lately. New studies are coming out every day touting the benefits of Vitamin D.

A recent study from the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and premature death. Now, new research published in the BMJ (formerly the British medical journal) links vitamin D deficiency to increased risk of death from all causes – including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by low exposure to sunlight, low consumption of dietary vitamin D over a period of time, this could be by following a vegan diet (most foods high in Vitamin D are animal based), problems with kidney or digestive tract function such as Crohn’s and also obesity. It should also be noted that cholesterol helps produce Vitamin D in the body. Is the low-fat lobby the reason we are seeing such a decline in Vitamin D levels?

The way that our bodies make Vitamin D is to convert sunshine into chemicals that are used by the body. The cholesterol in our skin converts “previtamin D” into usable vitamin D3 or provitamin D. Previtamin D travels through the kidneys and liver in the blood stream, and then is converted into a biologically active and usable substance called calcitriol.
It impacts not only our skeletal structure, but also our blood pressure, immunity, mood, brain function, and ability to protect ourselves from cancer.

Low levels of the vitamin have been associated with various health problems, such as increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, higher risk of cognitive impairment, especially Alzheimer’s, in later life, increased risk of asthma among children,It impacts not only our skeletal structure, but also our blood pressure, immunity, mood, brain function, and ability to protect ourselves from cancer.
and many types of cancer.

Why can Vitamin D help you lose weight?

A recent study done in Italy has presented data that indicates, that in obese and overweight people with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplementation aids weight loss and enhances the beneficial effects of a reduced-calorie diet,the researchers suggest that all overweight and obese people should have their vitamin D levels tested.

The RDA (Recommended daily allowance) for an adult is 5000IU/ day but in a therapeutic setting you can go up to 10,000 IU/day

Vitamin D is important for bone health, calcium metabolism, immune enhancement and Cancer prevention: especially breast and colon. Vitamin D toxicity is rare but can happen with supplementation and can be seen with too much calcium in the blood. If supplementing, it is important to get levels checked every 3 months.
There are no obvious symptoms of low vitamin D.

I think it’s important to say that the best way to get Vitamin D is through the sun, we have become so scared of exposing our skin to the sun, 30 minutes a day of sun exposure in the morning or afternoon shouldn’t do any damage. You can also get Vitamin D from some food sources, Cod livers and Cod liver oil, Mackerel, Salmon, Herring, butter and egg yolks. Note that the oily fish are eaten a lot by the northern latitudes, perhaps to make up for the lack of sun in the winter months.

Don’t have a shower as soon as you come in from the outdoors, it can take up to 24 hours for all the vitamin D to be absorbed from your skin, if you need to wash straight after the beach or park try not to use any soap. Enjoy the sun, do some gardening, get outside. You don’t need long. Who hasn’t felt better after spending time outside?

Supplementation works well too. Its important to get a good quality supplement

As always, Natural is preferred so Contact me for a nutritional plan, based on your personal needs and requirements.