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Because of the fact that every cell in the body is influenced by Vitamin D and its role in hormonal activity, it is interesting but not surprising to note that lack of Vitamin D interferes with the leptin response within the body.
Leptin is the hormone that suppresses appetite and regulates weight – it signals us to stop eating—could there be a link to the sun helping dieters to lose weight? Research has shown that the obese have very low levels of Vitamin D!
The sun produces 3 rays UVB (burning), UVA (aging) and UVC. Simply put, when UVB rays hit the skin, it stimulates a reaction just below the surface, creating a cholesterol, which in turn stimulates Vitamin D production.
Tanning beds have varying degrees of UVA and UVB radiation. The “Low Level” or “Level 1″ tanning beds which are mainly UVB bulbs have been shown to have the same effect on Vitamin D production within the skin as natural sunlight. However, the UVA bulbs in tanning salons are discouraged. They are advertised as the “bronzing bulbs” in the beds –UVA rays are the most damaging to the skin in terms of wrinkles, photo-aging, solar elastosis, etc. For the sake of this article, UVB tanning beds are synonymous with natural sunlight. Of course, your first choice would be to go out in the sun during the warmer months to increase Vitamin D stores.
As with diets, even the animals know they need sunlight to survive! We have all observed various animals sunning themselves – they need Vitamin D for survival as well to keep strong and healthy.
Ever notice that people are sick less often in the summer than the winter? Hmmmm, could it be Vitamin D? I recommend my clients take supplementa; Vitamin D3 during winter months to keep their immune systems strong, and towards January visit the tanning salon once or twice a week, depending on the individual.Vitamin D made in the skin lasts twice as long as Vitamin D made nutritionally. Only about 2 – 4 micrograms a day of Vitamin D is produced in the kidneys and stays constant regardless of the amount in the bloodstream. Recent discoveries have shown that vitamin D can also be activated within a variety of cells influencing the activity of abnormal cell growth and destruction.
Most Americans have very low levels of Vitamin D, and taking a Vitamin D supplement is not the fastest and only beneficial way to get vitamin D. The body has vitamin D receptors in every cell and is believed to actually be a hormone. Dr. Holick, Ph.D., M.D. has done extensive research on Vitamin D, not without ridicule. Besides, there is no money in promoting the sun – it’s free. Dermatologists and sunscreen manufactures would go out of business if the sun could advertise.
- Bone health: prevents osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia (characterized as extreme bone and muscle pain–”adult rickets”), rickets and fractures
- Cellular health: prevents certain cancers, such as prostate, pancreatic, breast, ovarian, and colon; prevents infectious diseases and upper respiratory tract infections, asthma and sneezing disorders
- organ health: prevents heart disease and stroke; prevents type 2 diabetes, periodontitis and tooth loss, and other inflammatory diseases
- Muscular health: supports muscle strength
- Autoimmune health: prevents multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes melitus, Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis
- Brain health: prevents depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Mood Related health: prevents seasonal affective disorder, premenstrual syndrome, sleeping disorders, elevates sense of well-being
The major circulating form of Vitamin D is called 25-vitamin D and its subsequent active form is called 1,25-vitamin D. The kidneys make a supply from the 25-vitamin D in the bloodstream that is created by the liver from the vitamin D that is made in the skin from sun exposure, and to a lesser extent, foods from the diet.25-vitamin D is converted to active Vitamin D and used on the spot within the cell and thereafter extinguishes itself by self-destruction so as to not reenter the bloodstream and accumulate. Supplementation with Vitamin D nutritionally through food or pill form has benefits, but are used up and eliminated very quickly. Studies now indicate that Vitamin D obtained through the diet is not stored for future use.
When your body doesn’t obtain sufficient sunlight, it can’t make enough Vitamin D on its own. There is very little vitamin D from dietary sources — to get a sufficient amount (1,000 – 2,000 IU’s) every day you would have to:
- eat 3 cans of sardines
- drink 10 – 20 glasses of fortified milk
- eat 10-20 bowls of cereal
- consume 50 – 100 egg yolks
- eat 7 ounces of wild salmon every day
All the hype about using sunscreen to prevent cancer actually has had an adverse effect on the body – osteoporosis, diabetes, adult rickets now referred to as osteomalacia, ect., including obesity!
Sunscreens have been known to block out the good UVB “burning” rays and allow the damaging UVA rays to penetrate longer – the burning is what tells us we have had enough! My recommendation has always been 20 minutes of “unprotected” sun exposure during the summer months between 10am and 2pm at least 3 times a week and avoid use of chemical sunscreens as they are more damaging to the body than the actual sun! If used, the best sunscreens contain natural ingredients, such as minerals, which absorb and reflect the sun’s rays.
Sun exposure just a few times a week provides the body with the longer lasting Vitamin D for almost two weeks, depending on the length of time spent and intensity of the sun. Vitamin D obtained through sunlight is imperative to keep levels of Vitamin D up and stored for winter months. It’s raining out and I’m off to the tanning salon…..
Janet Stuck is a Doctor of Naturopathy, Certified Nutritional Counselor, Certified Wellness Nutritional Counselor, Master Herbologist and Certified Natural Health Professional. Janet writes for www.LiberationWellnessBlog.com and her website www.onestopherbshop.net.
