Vital Vitamin D Warning

It’s easy to think that every health problem can be solved by popping a pill.

Unfortunately, it’s rarely that simple.

Most medications are expensive, side-effect-laden Band-aids.

And while supplements can be beneficial, getting the nutrients your body needs from natural sources is far better.

Vitamin D is the perfect example. And ignoring this could have serious consequences.

Vitamin D is essential for good health.

Not getting enough can increase your risk of most diseases—and reduce your life expectancy.

Even worse, most people don’t have enough of this critical hormone.

But the answer is NOT to take a vitamin D supplement.

For starters, vitamin D isn’t a one-man show. If you’re deficient in other nutrients—like magnesium and vitamin K—your body can’t utilize vitamin D.

Even worse, taking too much vitamin D can be toxic.

Excessive vitamin D levels can cause nausea, muscle weakness, pain, dehydration, and frequent urination. In extreme cases, it can cause kidney and heart problems.

Now, to be clear, you’d have to take a LOT of vitamin D to lead to toxicity—in the range of 60,000 IUs per day. But it’s still possible, and if you’re taking a lot of supplements, you’re likely getting far more than you realize.

The best way to obtain optimal vitamin D levels is to spend time in the sun.

When skin is exposed to UVB rays from the midday sun, a chain reaction of events culminates in the production of vitamin D.

And unlike supplements, you can’t overdose on D from sun exposure.

If more UV exposure occurs after your body has received an adequate supply of D, your body simply shuts down production.

As I said earlier, natural is always best.

So, spending time in the sun is the best (and safest) way to boost your vitamin D levels.

P.S. Beware… these two common vitamin deficiencies drive up cancer risk.

SOURCE:

Geiger, F. “Taking Too Much Vitamin D Can Actually Cause Kidney Damage, Experts Warn.” MSN.com