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Vitamin D is Essential for Bone Health and More
Author: Jennifer Kays  | Posted: 27-01-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 11 | Rating: (50)  (?) 
Vitamins D is a fat-soluble seco-sterol hormone precursor that is responsible for sustaining optimal levels of calcium and phosphorus in our blood stream. To some extent, Vitamin D is manufactured by our skin though exposure to sunlight. The best time for sunlight exposure is during the spring and fall seasons.. Winter sunlight is too weak for the production of Vitamin D. Many of us do not get enough exposure to sunlight during the year. We have been convinced that the sun is not good for our skin, so when we are exposed to sun we have come to use clothing and sun screen to "protect" ourselves from the sun. Most of us spend most of our time indoors. These factors have resulted in making Vitamin D deficiency a common if not major health problem. It has also been found that older people and many younger women, especially African-American women, and those who live in Northern climates with less time exposure to sunlight are at risk for Vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D is essential in reducing bone fractures and increasing bone strength and density. It has been found that higher quantities of calcium alone in our diets does not reduce the risk of bone fracture or significantly increase bone density and strength. The reason for this is that calcium needs to be absorbed in order to be beneficial. Vitamin D is essential in increasing the absorption of calcium. This is especially important for women in producing and maintaining healthy, strong bone structure and prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Children need Vitamin D to help their bones mineralize during rapid bone growth. Of course, we all know the importance of the absorption of calcium enhanced by Vitamin D for the development and maintenance of oral bone and tooth health. Vitamin D may very well help us keep our teeth.
In the Northern part of our world and during the winter many people suffer from SAD i.e. seasonal affective disorder. SAD is a form of depression most probably due to reduced exposure to sunlight resulting in less production of Vitamin D. It has been found that supplemental intake of Vitamin D is superior to light therapy in reducing the condition of SAD. It has also been found that blood pressure is elevated during the winter and in people with less exposure to sunlight. Research has shown that people with little exposure to sunlight, who add Vitamin D supplementation to their diets, experience lowering of high blood pressure and lower heart rate. The absorption of calcium though the use of sufficient amounts of Vitamin D has been found to prevent and reduce hypertension..
Vitamin D has been found to provide a critical function in many metabolic processes, such as our cell growth, our immune system, and our cardiovascular health. Low levels i.e. deficiency of Vitamin D has been found to be a factor in congestive heart failure for many older people. Extensive research is being conducted to determine the effect of Vitamin D deficiency in the growth of certain cancers. The lack of absorption of calcium because of Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to seizures. Because of Vitamin D's effect on the maintenance of healthy levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood stream and absorption of calcium and phosphorus, Vitamin D has been shown to be helpful in treating kidney failure.
Vitamin D has been shown to increase muscles strength, especially large muscle e.g thighs, calves, arms, and diaphragm. Vitamin D has also been found to reduce muscle pain by helping repair the damage of muscle strain. This is especially important as we age.
More and more evidence is being found confirming the vital importance of Vitamin D for our general health as well as for our bone health. Unfortunately, relying on exposure to sunlight for our skin to produce Vitamin D, has it's limitations such as winter, geographic location, indoor lifestyle, etc. It would be wise for us to insure that we are receiving enough Vitamin D by adding a Vitamin D supplement to our diets in single form or through multiple vitamin formulas containing healthy amounts of Vitamin D.
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Breaking Into Pieces.
By: jmdillon | 09-07-2008
Hi all. All I can't say is, help. About a year and a half ago my father was diagnosed with stage IV bladder cancer. Since then it has spread to his lungs, liver and abdomen. Nurses say he has several months. My family is in Ohio and I am working in Washington, DC. I am 23 and my dad is only 55, unfair if you ask me. My dad and I have always been close. He is ordained in the Methodist Church and has worked in the church for years so our family has always been involved together in the church. The last report we got from the doctor is that the masses in his lungs have doubled and tripled in size in the past 2 months since he chose to stop treatment (it was doing more harm than good). So, at 23, i'm dealing with something way beyond what I am prepared for. But, on top of this, my boyfriend of 2.5 years, with whom I live, has decided to go to Cornell (500 miles away) for a graduate program. Sean, my boyfriend, has been my stronghold, my shoulder, my rock since my father was diagnosed. As poorly as I may be handling my father's condition, it has definitley been better than had Sean not been with me to support me. My support system of friends and family are all in Ohio, so Sean is all I have here. My question is, how do I do this? I personally don't think I am emotionally capable of maintaining a healthy long-distance relationship with half of my heart being in Ohio with my family. I need someone to BE there for me. What do I do? How do I end a relationship I never thought would end, and live to see the next day? How does pain like this not kill a person?
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