Living in Walls, D deficiency

Living in walls ( Happy Diwali)

We have chosen the life of walls, may be walls of house, or of a car or of an office. Many of us avoid Sun exposure.  Vitamin D in the food supply is limited and most often inadequate to prevent deficiencies.  

Those who have complaints of suboptimal calcium absorption (osteoporosis), cardio vascular diseases, diabetes Type I & II, hypertension, high BP, lungs functions, asthma, progression of tuberculosis, chronic pain, skin condition, nutritional deficiency associated immunity, depression, multiple sclerosis, overweight; one of the reasons may be the deficiency/insufficiency of  vitamin D (less than 25 OH).

Deficiency results in impaired bone mineralization, and leads to bone softening diseases. Vitamin D prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and, together with calcium, helps to protect older adults from osteoporosis. Vitamin D also affects neuromuscular function, inflammation, and influences the action of many genes that regulate the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells.

Often we hear the word, ‘thick skin’ for other reasons. But ageing thick skin produces less vitamin D from the Sun (ultraviolet) exposure. Research shows that dark skinned people living in temperate climates need 3-6 times more exposure to ultraviolet compare to the light skin people (melanin in the skin hinders vitamin D synthesis). 

We were told by the teachers during childhood to expose our body to Sun in morning hours to solve vitamin D deficiency. But now researchers tell to expose body to the Sun between 10am to 12pm.

Our forefathers were healthy due to hard physical work and sufficient exposure to Sun. But we have changed our life style and selected walled life with chilled AC. Therefore, each one of us carries some tablets to attend disorders.

To improve physical performance and to improve quality of life, let us attend the level of Vitamin D by Sun exposure, dietary sources and supplements.

Wishing you all Happy Diwali, Prosperous New Year (Vikram Samvat 2068) and a Healthy life with sufficient Vitamin D level.

Shubham Bhavatu Kalyanam.

Punamchand

26 October 2011

NB: Dietary sources of Vitamin D include: 

·         UV-irradiated mushrooms and yeast are the only known vegan significant sources of vitamin D from food sources.

·         Milk exposed to UV light. 

·         Fatty fish species, such as: Catfish, Salmon, Mackerel, Sardines, Tuna, Eel

·         Cod liver oil Tbs.

·         A whole egg.

·         Beef liver.