Taming Type 2 Diabetes

( I originally researched this post for my blog on Natural Healing with Food, but the information is so applicable to diabetes, I thought I would share it on this blog as well.)

If you want to give your health a big natural boost, check your vitamin D intake.

Let me back up for a minute.

What do people with osteoporosis, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, bowel cancer, depression, obesity, most degenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders have in common? A deficiency in vitamin D.

Research led by Professor Carsten Geisler (Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Copenhagen) has shown that vitamin D helps the body fight infections by activating the T cells of the immune system. The T cells when activated seek and destroy invaders that are then carried out of the body. When unactivated the T cells lie dormant and offer very little if any defense against foreign microorganisms and viruses.

Vitamin D also enables the absorption of calcium and phosphate. Calcium and phosphate are necessary for bones and teeth as well as the proper functioning of the nerves and muscles.

So the good news is that vitamin D can help build bones and teeth, promote the functioning of nerves and muscles, and prevent and fight a plethora of diseases that seem to be running rampant through the population these days. The bad news is that vitamin D deficiency is also rampant in the population these days. In fact, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that 59 percent of people are deficient in vitamin D.

One reason for this is, of course, our modern indoor lifestyle because our primary source of vitamin D is sunlight: When the skin is exposed to sunlight, it converts UVB rays into vitamin D. (By the way, sunscreens block vitamin D production. Sorry.) But if a free walk outside is out of reach, there are other sources of vitamin D including foods such as fish, cod liver oil, eggs, and foods supplemented with vitamin D not to mention supplements.

It may not take much to raise your vitamin D to the correct level: Some researchers have estimated that even a 10 percent increase could reduce bowel cancer in the United Kingdom population by 7 percent. But if you need more, you can feel comfortable with increasing your levels because vitamin D is extremely safe: Therapeutic dosages range in the tens of thousands (despite the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of only 400 IU) and, as of this time, there is no solid evidence proving the toxicity of vitamin D at reasonable amounts; 20 minutes of summer sun amounts to about 20,000 IU, so a supplement of that amount should be fine. In fact research (conducted by Dr. Robert Heaney of the American Dietetic Association) has shown that vitamin D3 has a therapeutic index of 10, which means a dose of 40,000 IU a day is twice as safe as water.

So, to sum things up: Most of the western population is vitamin D deficient. This deficiency can promote the development of a range of serious health problems including, cancer, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, serious infections, and depression. And yet this deficiency can be addressed by sensible sunlight exposure, dietary additions such as fatty fish, and/or inexpensive and safe supplements.

I hate to use the term “no brainer,” but . . . this really does seem like one. So, check your vitamin D intake. You know what to do.

Image by Sifu Renka via Flickr

DISCLAIMER
This information is not a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before using or taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested on this site. Only your health care provider, physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.