Aaaacccckkkkk! Sleeper Vitamins and Other Musings

I just realized it's been quite a while since my last post. I think I've been writing posts in my head and then forgetting I didn't actually post them.

Anyway, topic o' the day is Vitamin D - aka the "sleeper vitamin." It's very important (anyone remember rickets). Well it turns out that Vitamin D deficiencies are everywhere. Vitamin D is fat soluble, so if you have some extra fat on you, your fat could be absorbing the vitamin D that your body needs. If you have followed health trends, you know that UV light is damaging to your skin. You may be super careful about wearing sunblock and staying out of the sun. All that skin health could be damaging your overall health, however. UV light on the skin is required for the body to make vitamin D. If no or little UV hits your skin, eventually you are going to become deficient.

Vitamin D is not something that you can get from your diet. It is also not recommended that you increase your UV exposure to increase your vitamin D levels. You can take vitamins or cod liver oil. Right now the daily requirement is 400 units. However, that minimum requirement will probably be increased.

As far as symptoms - fatigue, weight gain, muscle pain. Sound familiar? I know that I started taking a vitamin D supplement and felt better within 24 hours. It was amazing. I am a convert. I take about 1200 units a day. The next time I go to the doctor, I'll have my levels checked to make sure I'm getting the right amount.

So, think about the sleeper vitamin. I know I did and I feel healthier for it.