Vitamin D Deficiency and Aging
Boost your vitamin D levels for protection against many diseases
Here’s a riddle for you: What nutrient comes from an absolutely free source, yet is not found at healthy levels in 75 percent of American teenagers and adults?
The answer is vitamin D.
Vitamin D is technically not a vitamin but a secosteriod hormone that interacts with over 2,000 genes in the human body to produce an astounding number of benefits for health and longevity.
For example, vitamin D can help prevent and/or fight many serious diseases associated with aging such as:
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Depression
- Gum Disease
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Autoimmune Diseases
Because vitamin D is produced in the body in response to sunlight, in theory it should be relatively simple for everyone to have enough of this vital nutrient. However, the reality is more complicated.
Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency
According to a recent study from the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, 75 percent of teens and adults in the US are low on vitamin D. The Vitamin D Council believes this figure actually underestimates the problem. The study used 30 ng/ml as the standard for vitamin D deficiency, whereas many experts consider 50 ng/ml a better standard. At 50 ng/ml, almost everyone’s body begins to store vitamin D, rather than using it up as quickly as it is produced. Having stored vitamin D is considered beneficial for health.
A variety of factors contribute to the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency in America.
First of all, there is the fact that our lives are mainly lived indoors. Many people simply don’t get enough sun exposure to produce the vitamin D they need on a daily basis.
Secondly, there is the fact that when we do go outdoors, many people use sunscreen. While sunscreen is important for protecting skin against UV damage, it also impairs vitamin D production.
Thirdly, there is the fact that Americans love to feel clean. The vitamin D that forms on your skin can take up to 48 hours to be fully absorbed. If you use soap on the areas of your skin that have been out in the sun before enough time has passed, you could be washing away a significant portion of the nutrient.
Finally, there is the fact that vitamin D production declines with age.
Don’t Let Vitamin D Deficiency Harm Your Health
Did you know that older adults who are vitamin D deficient are 3 times more likely to die from heart disease and 2.5 times more likely to die from any cause?
The good news is that with a few simple lifestyle changes, you can help your body to produce more vitamin D, which will help protect against disease and safeguard your longevity. Make a point of spending about 15 minutes per day outside in the sun without sunscreen. Afterwards, try not to use soap on the areas of skin that have been exposed to the sun. You can also add foods rich in vitamin D to your diet, such as salmon, kale, dairy products, and fortified foods like orange juice and cereal.
Even with these efforts, you could still be low on vitamin D due to your age. To find out, get your vitamin D levels checked by a doctor. Then, if you are indeed deficient, you can take a supplement. At Renew Youth, we offer a quality D3 supplement containing the vitamin in a form your body can use easily. To learn more, contact us today.
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