Low Vitamin D Symptoms: The Mystery Cause of Those Mystery Symptoms

Vitamin D is available in many dietary sources such as eggs, fish, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. The sun gives us a significant amount of our dailt Vitamin D intake. As few as 10-15 minutes of exposure is believed to be enough to prevent deficiencies. There are several different forms of Vitamin D. There are two particular forms that are important for human beings: ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). Vitamin D2 is synthesized by plants. Vitamin D3 is synthesized by humans in the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet-B rays from sunlight. Foods can be fortified with vitamin D2 or D3.

The major function of Vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D also helps in the absorption of calcium, which helps to form and maintain strong bones. Recent research indicates that Vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases.

Rickets and osteomalacia are classic vitamin D deficiency diseases. Groups who may be at a high risk for vitamin D deficiencies include the elderly, obese individuals, exclusively breastfed infants, and those who have limited sun exposure. Also those who have inflammatory bowel disease may be at greater risk.

Did you know that by eating more RAW foods, you can substantially increase your energy levels?

Think about how sluggish you feel after a large, carb laden meal. You want to crawl into bed and take a nap. That is no way to live life!

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One recent study suggests that you would have to drink 50 glasses of whole cow's milk each day or take 10 vitamin pills to make up for not getting enough Vitamin D from sunlight each day!

Not an appetizing thought! Even if you are a milk lover, drinking that much would make you feel really bad.

The skin produces about 20,000 IU of vitamin D in response 20-30 minutes summer sun exposure which is 100 times more than the US government's recommendation of 200 IU per day.

Here are some ways to make sure you get the right levels of Vitamin D each day:

* Regularly get midday sun exposure in the late spring, summer, and early fall, exposing as much of the skin as possible. This is hard in areas of the country and the world where the sunlight is often masked.

* One school of thought says to take 5,000 IU per day for three months, then have a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test. Adjust your dosage so that blood levels are between 50-80 ng/mL (or 125-200 nM/L) year-round. Of course, you should be working in partnership with your doctor throughout the process of adjusting your Vitamin D levels.