I know many of us in North America are vitamin D deficient. Heck, where I live, they won't even test you for Vitamin D levels without a special letter from the doctor. This is one of those things that's more complex for those of us with MEN (to take a vitamin D3 supplement or not) because many of us suffer with hyperparathyroidism. That basically means that your parathyroid glands (located in your neck) produce too much parathyroid hormone which then tells your bones that your blood needs more calcium. It pulls the calcium from your bones and puts too much in the blood, which is not good as your kidneys try to filter it out and you end up with kidney stones. Then your bones ache and your muscles, which also rely on calcium, ache too. Then your bones become weaker because of this draw. People often have problems with their teeth as well after a while. Extra calcium in your blood can cause brain fog and headaches and even feelings of depression and lethargy as well as gastrointestinal issues.
Many of us have heard the mnemonic: "painful bones, renal stones, abdominal groans, and psychic moans". This can be used to recall the typical symptoms of hypercalcemia which is the result of hyperparathyroidism.
For years I was told by my specialist not to take vitamin D, even though I was chronically low, because I was told that it would make my hyperparathyroidism worse. So for years I lived like that until I went to NIH and they told me I'd better take vitamin D in large quantities, oh and B12 as well! The fatigue that plagued me for years started to lessen after that! I wish I had taken it sooner. And since taking it, my calcium levels never seem to go above the normal threshold!
Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin. Well actually, it is a hormone. Our bodies rely on the sun to make this vital substance. 30 minutes of sun exposure will raise your vitamin D levels naturally.
Now I don't know about you but I love the sun and always have. I've been blessed with skin that allows me to go outside and not burn. I've never felt better than when I walk along the beach in the warm sun with the sand in my toes...oh how I dream of returning to the beach - especially on these cold winter days!
I believe that it's actually very therapeutic to have the natural sunlight on your skin - even for short amounts of time as long as you don't burn. I also believe that vitamin D is a natural immune system booster. It keeps our immune system strong which allows us to stave off disease progression. The reason cold and flu season exists when it does is not because the weather is cold, but rather a side effect of getting less sun exposure and thus lower vitamin D levels! I keep my immune system in check in other ways by removing all forms of sugar from my diet. Did you know that sugar will compete with vitamin C in the cells? If you're eating sugar you can kiss your immune system goodbye! Why do you think kids get so sick right around Halloween?
Now if you've had the parathyroid surgery to correct hyperparathyroidism and you're now calcium deficient, the opposite will be true and you will be taking calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. I hope you are taking calcitrol, to absorb it properly. Speaking of absorption, I've probably mentioned this many times over but if you are taking proton pump inhibitors, (PPI's such as omeprazole or pantoprazole) be aware that this reduction in stomach acid makes it harder for your body to absorb vital nutrients like Vitamin D3 and especially B12.
So my remedy for having naturally lower vitamin D levels? I take vitamin D supplements every day now, for years, and walking in the sunshine as often as possible! Even better still would be walking barefoot on the beach (on the earth) which is a perfect segway for something called grounding that is also kinda cool that I'll discuss one day but first I need to get outside in the sunshine!
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