Vitamin D. What’s the big deal?
Vitamin D is essential to the maintenance of normal blood concentrations of calcium and phosphorous. It actually aids in the absorption of calcium, which helps form and maintain strong bones. Without the right amount of vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or malformed. Recent research shows that adequate levels of vitamin D can prevent rickets in children and may provide protection from osteoporosis, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer and several autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, it looks like we’re not getting enough of it. In fact, Vitamin D deficiency has become pandemic, with recent estimates indicating more than 50% of the global population is at risk.
The vitamin D-bate
Vitamin D. It’s good for your body. It’s good for your bones. But is it good for your skin? It’s a well-documented fact that when ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight strike your skin, they can trigger vitamin D production. It’s also a well-known fact that UV rays are the number one cause of skin cancer. This reason alone should be enough to convince you to seek your vitamin D elsewhere. Consider the following:
- UV radiation is a carcinogen responsible for most of the estimated 1.5 million skin cancers and the 8,000 deaths due to metastatic melanoma that occur annually in the United States1
- One person dies from melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, almost every hour in the United States
- Along with skin cancer, UV rays can cause premature aging of the skin
- No studies exist to determine whether vitamin D that is produced by exposure to UV rays can occur without an increased risk of skin cancer
Here are a few do’s and don’ts for getting a safe, daily dose of vitamin D:
