Vitamin D, The Amazing Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D has been a hot topic in the news recently. The research keeps pouring in on just how important vitamin D is for your health. Research studies also show that vitamin D offers a multitude of important benefits including healthy heart function, immune and bone health, but surprisingly, up to 80% of Americans have insufficient levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is produced in your body from cholesterol, and it influences your entire body, from cells in your brain to your bones. Science has now realized that vitamin D does more than just aid in the bone formation and the absorption of calcium, it is also involved in regulating your immune system, repairing cells, and more. Along with exercising and eating healthy, make sure your vitamin D level is at its optimal level. This step is so simple, but one that stands to make a huge difference in your health.
Why do most Americans have low levels of Vitamin D? The answer is lack of sun exposure. Vitamin D is considered the sunshine vitamin because it is produced when sunlight touches your skin. Research has shown that if you get very little sun exposure, you use sunscreen when you are exposed to the sun (for a short period of time), are elderly, or have a dark skin complexion, you may need more. Just 15 minutes of sun exposure a day can boost your vitamin D levels in the body and benefit your health.
Are you getting enough Vitamin D? According to experts in nutrition, we may not be getting enough and it is still being debated as to what this amount should be. The conventional RDAs are as follows:
400 IU for infants, children and adolescents
200 IU for adults up to age 50
400 IU for adults aged 51 to 70
600 IU for seniors over 70
These numbers are the bare bones minimum from what is actually needed for optimal health. Many experts now agree you need about 35 IU’s of vitamin D per pound of body weight, which may actually be 3 to 4 times the amount than we are currently getting.
The level of vitamin D supplementation you may need depends on many factors including time of year, where you live, how much sun exposure you get each day, sunscreen use, your age, your skin color, how often you eat fish or vitamin D fortified foods, if you are overweight, and how often you exercise. Modifying your diet is also a good way to get some additional vitamin D. Some fish like Salmon and tuna, as well as cod liver oil are among the best sources of vitamin D.
To play it safe, it is best to supplement your diet with a daily multi-vitamin supplement with plenty of vitamin D3 specifically, as it is the easiest to absorb. Look for one with at least a minimum of 800 IU of vitamin D per serving.…
It’s not pleasant to think about, but nearly half of all women will eventually start losing their hair. Female pattern baldness typically causes the strands to start thinning around various regions of the head. This can be very distressing for women since their hair is seen as part of their identity and as a symbol of beauty. Fortunately, there are natural hair loss products for women which can help regrow hair.
Just like no two people are exactly the same, every persons hair is special, different and unique. This is why Sunsilk hair products were made in consideration of every individuals unique hair type. Many women, and of course men need to find the perfect hair product suitable to your their specific hair type. The Sunsilk group has consistently produced high quality hair conditioners, styling gels and shampoos yearly; it is no wonder that their products are highly sought worldwide.
Everyone loves to have healthy, beautiful hair. However, there are several different problems that can plague the health of your hair. One of the most common problems people have with their locks is dryness. Dryness can be caused by a poor diet, environmental damage, or an excess of heat while styling. If you have dry or damaged hair, there are many things you can do to help bring moisture and health back to your hair.
Battling breast cancer can be more manageable when you have the support and encouragement of friends and family. Co-survivors know breast cancer affects everyone. “People should not have to face a life-threatening disease alone,” says Susan Brown, RN, a health education manager at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. “Strength is in numbers.”
Have you ever stood before the mirror and looked at the pudge on your body and wondered why our bodies tend to store fat in the first place? Why not build more muscle, for example? Why do we tend to build up fat around our arms, bellies, thighs, hips and back? What is the purpose of this fat, and why did we evolve to store it as we do? Why is it so hard to burn fat off, and easy to lose muscle? These questions are so basic that we often don’t even think to ask them, but there is a biological answer to each one. In today’s article we’re going to take a look at why our bodies seem to love fat and what purpose it serves, and why we tend to store it and have so much difficulty burning it when we want to lose weight. If you’ve ever wondered about any of these questions, read on!