– Getting Enough Vitamin D
Do you Shun the Sun?
We’ve all been taught to fear the sun’s damaging rays which can cause burns, skin aging, and cancer. But did you know that inadequate amounts of this abundant resource can be dangerous to your health? Vitamin D is known as “The Sunshine Vitamin”, and it’s linked directly to many aspects of your health.
The best source of Vitamin D is the sun….or secondarily from supplementation at the level of 5000 IU daily. We all need this Vitamin to stay healthy. Everything from maintaining strong bones to preventing diabetes depends on the level of Vitamin D in your body.
Ideally, plan to get 30 minutes of unprotected sun between 8 – 10am and/or 4 – 6pm daily. Yes, that means leave the sunscreen at home for a short time. Many of these sunscreens are now being called into question for their toxic effects on our immune systems, so perhaps you don’t need it as often as you think. When you do use it, we prefer the stuff that turns your skin white…and stays white. That is generally a “physical block”, and the larger the components of the heavy metal in the lotion, the less likely they are to soak thru your skin and get into your bloodstream. If the lotion stays white (not micronized), it is not soaking in. If the lotion soaks in, it is in your bloodstream within seconds. You can find some good, natural sunscreens at health food stores. The mass-produced sunscreen products are mostly not acceptable to us.
Sunlight – A Part of Many Healing Protocols
Getting daily sun exposure is part of the healing protocol we recommend for depression, diabetes, breast cancer, insomnia and even thyroid conditions.
From the book “Conquering Any Disease: The Ultimate High-Phytochemical Food Healing System by Jeff Primack, QiGong Practitioner:
“Other research has shown Vitamin D to be protective against pancreatic, colorectal and prostate cancer, as well as breast and many other cancers. Author Stephen Daniels noted that a link was established between latitude and deaths from cancer as early as the 1940’s. The concept at that time was that sunlight provided “a relative cancer immunity.” Does fear of skin cancer lead to sunlight avoidance and subsequent rise in cancer? You decide. I’ll be outside.”
Daily sun exposure resets the body’s circadian rhythm. Also best to get at least 10 minutes without the sunglasses. Your eyes absorb energy from the sun’s light indirectly. Using sunglasses constantly limits the body’s opportunity to receive special healing energy from the sun.
And oh, BTW, cholesterol gets converted into Vitamin D by sunlight!
Obesity Creates Vitamin D Deficiency!
There are also good Vitamin D supplements, but if obesity is involved, that issue needs to be addressed in order for the body to be able to access and utilize Vitamin D. When excessive fat is present, the Vitamin D gets stored/locked into the fat cells. Not a useful place because the body systems can’t get to it! Obesity creates Vitamin D deficiency.
Check out this list of conditions which indicate possible inadequate absorption of Vitamin D. Does anything in this list apply to you or someone you know?
- Don’t get much sunlight
- Obese (Body Mass Index measurement over 30)
- Hypertension
- Bone Pain & Bone Loss (Osteopenia and Osteoporosis)
- Strict Vegan Diet
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Osteoporosis
- Severe Asthma (in children)
- Intestinal Issues: Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrom, Cystic Fibrosis, Celiac
- Kidney issues (toxins, pharmaceuticals and aging cause this too)
- Depression
- Infections (especially in the feet)
Diabetes is Affected by Sunlight!
Many of the above indications overlap with Diabetes, one of the top 4 killers in America. Get ahead of that one naturally, and one of the things you need to do is get sunlight daily! You can absolutely prevent and turn many cases of diabetes around with natural healing protocols, including diet, exercise and sunlight.
Want to learn about special foods which can really help diabetes? Come in and see Dr. David or call Deb Martin. Deb also does Food Consultation sessions to introduce people to the power of the phytochemicals in certain foods. You can best reach her on her cell phone (303) 929-4972.
In all cases, for general health and many healing protocols, we recommend you get your daily minimum of 20-30-minutes of unprotected sun exposure and/or supplement with a high-quality Vitamin D to maintain good health. We recommend 5000 IU’s per day, and we carry a brand with excellent absorption. We consider it one of our most important supplements.
In Health,
Dr. David Martin & Staff
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
(239) 277-1399
Serving the greater Fort Myers area, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, Punta Gorda.