Vitamin D the "Sunshine Vitamin" and your Health

In the fight against heart disease, you have a number of time-tested weapons at your disposal—a balanced diet and daily exercise, for a start. But what if you could slash your risk of heart disease death by more than half just by sitting in the sun?

It might sound too good to be true, but recent research on vitamin D shows that ample stores of this “sunshine vitamin” could be the key to a longer life—in more ways than one.

Cuts All-Cause Mortality By 75 Percent

As part of an analysis published in the May 2012 issue of Diabetes Care, researchers assessed data from the Ludwishafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study, which followed 1,801 people diagnosed with metabolic syndrome for an average of 7.7 years.

During this time span, there were 462 recorded deaths. Blood samples showed, however, that subjects with ideal vitamin D levels benefited from a 66 percent lower risk of heart disease death—and more specifically, an 85 percent reduction in sudden death and a 78 percent reduction in congestive heart failure. Results also revealed a 75 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality.1-2

As for how vitamin D status is linked to these effects, the researchers pointed to its known influence on blood sugar control—and the fact that low levels of D are associated with increases in deadly insulin resistance. Studies have also shown that vitamin D can protect against damaging inflammation in blood vessel walls, making it a very literal life-saver when you’re up against metabolic syndrome.

Defeat Heart Disease In 30 Minutes a Day

Ultimately, this study just offers up one more reason to make sure that you’re hitting your quota of vitamin D every day—while lending additional weight to this compound’s well-known role in the fight against osteoporosis, depression, cancer and more. The catch? Well, if you’re like most Americans, then you probably aren’t getting anywhere close to enough.

Sunshine remains your single most bioavailable source of health-sustaining vitamin D. But with more people slathering on sunscreen and spending precious daylight hours indoors, vitamin D insufficiency has hit epidemic proportions in recent years—which means that, in all likelihood, your body’s stores are lower than you think.

Luckily, though, the solution couldn’t be simpler. A quality vitamin D supplement—in the form of bioactive D3, or cholecalciferol—can help to keep your bases covered when your access to sun is limited. In the meantime, a goldmine of vitamin D waits right at your front door. Just step outside with bare skin during peak sunshine hours for 30 minutes every day… and let your body do the rest.

References:

1. Daniells S. “Optimal vitamin D linked to lower heart disease death: Study.” 22 May 2012. http://www.nutraingredients.com/content/view/print/638385.

2. Thomas GN, et al. Diabetes Care. 2012 May;35(5):1158-64.

(this article was obtained from vitamin research products)

Diet and Nutrients , Dietary Supplements, Diet and Disease