This note is an abridged version of an article in the Epoch Times, on 2/21/22
Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin is actually a hormone with several
important jobs
There has been a lot of discussion about vitamin D circulating among natural health enthusiasts recently. As a certified functional medicine practitioner, vitamin D status is something that I monitor very closely. Vitamin D is actually a hormone, specifically a prohormone that the body converts into a steroid hormone. Itās synthesized in the skin from sun exposure and activated in the liver and kidneys. Lately, vitamin D has been a hotly discussed nutrient for its role in supporting the immune system. While vitamin D is a powerful modulator of the immune system, thatās far from its only role in human health.
Symptoms of Vitamin D
Deficiency
Low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of cancer, autoimmune
disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, and
osteoporosis. Being aware of signs of deficiency can prompt you to address
that. Those symptoms include:
Ā·
Fatigue
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Migraines
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Muscle pain/weakness
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Depression
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Low/improper immune function
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Hormone dysfunction
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Increased inflammation
Ā· Allergies
Food Sources of Bioavailable Vitamins A, D,
and K2
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Pasture-raised egg yolks
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Grass-fed red meat
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Organ meats such as liver
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Grass-fed raw dairy products such as ghee,
butter, cream, milk, kefir, and cheese (if tolerated)
Ā·
Cod liver oil
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Wild-caught fish such as salmon, herring,
sardines
Ā·
Pasture-raised lard, duck, and chicken fat
Can You Get Too Much Vitamin D?
Absolutely! Just as low levels of vitamin D are cause for concern, so are levels in excess. Ideal vitamin D levels, like many things, fall onto a bell-shaped curve. When blood levels of 25(OH)D levels close to 100 ng/mL and beyond, itās considered toxic. With many people promoting vitamin D supplementation, often in high doses, itās wise to know that this vitamin can increase to toxic levels within the body because it is fat-soluble. This means they are stored in the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle and are more likely to become toxic than water-soluble vitamins that are relatively quickly excreted from the body.
There are cases, often with over-supplementation, that can
cause significant problems. These include:
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Heart attack
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Stroke
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Kidney stones
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Headache
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Anorexia
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Weight loss
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Low bone density
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