Vitamin D is definitely in the news at the moment, because deficiencies are turning out to be so common, and the link to various diseases is becoming undeniable.
This is yet another example of extremes causing problems! The ongoing paranoia about sun exposure, which has led to everyone slathering themselves with sun-blocking lotions, is leading to the reversal of an interesting observation made many years ago.
Previously it had been noted that the incidence of MS was much lower in the sunbelt states - I made reference to this in my article on MS as long ago as 1998 - but this protective effect seems to be evaporating. The connection between MS and Vitamin D is inescapable.
While it is possible to get D from the diet and from supplementation, exposure to the sun is still the most efficient way to ensure higher levels. Interestingly, sun exposure was part of the recommendations of Dr. Johanna Budwig for fighting cancer. I have certainly added some D to my regimen.
I find it fascinating, too, to remember that the only time I got spanked as a child was for finishing off a whole bottle of Cod Liver Oil. My body, existing at that time in the Northern latitudes of Sweden, must have known something intuitively!
I am copying these links from my previous post on Vitamin D
Krispin Sullivan CN - comprehensive article on Vitamin D - emphasizes the importance of TESTING your levels of D when supplementing or exposing yourself to the sun. Information on which test to request is also given.
