Sunshine and Youth Really Are Related
Since skin cancer remains a serious issue in Australia, and we’re told every summer to be wary of the health problems associated with too much sunlight, it’s easy to overlook the other side of the equation.
Vitamin D deficiency affects millions, and especially during these winter months. According to Professor Michael Holick, as many as 73% of Aussies have low vitamin D levels.
So what’s the big deal? Well, a new collaborative study from teams in Germany and the USA shows that a long-term deficiency of vitamin D causes our bones to age more rapidly, and can lead to poor skeletal health and increased risk of fracture.
If vitamin D levels in the blood drop too much, the human body tries to recover by taking some from bone. If this becomes a chronic issue, the lack of calcium begins to cause problems with the creation of new bone tissue, eventually affecting bone density.
Preventing this premature aging process is as simple as keeping the vitamin D flowing. A common source of vitamin D is through supplements, although a lab test of many of these supplements earlier this year showed that different brands can have as little as 9%, and as much as 146% of the vitamin D that their labels claim. Variations exist not only from brand-to-brand and bottle-to-bottle, but also from pill-to-pill within the same bottles in some cases.
Thankfully, there’s another way to regulate your intake of vitamin D. It’s completely free, and encourages a wide range of other health benefits. HSG recommends exposing your skin to a moderate amount of sunlight every day. Getting outdoors and into the sun can be as simple as having a family picnic or taking a morning run.
Looking for more health information? Natural strategies to prevent aging can be covered in our Health Seminars.
