Vitamin D, or, Go Outside and Take a Walk

Looking back over the last couple of weeks, I see that I resurrected posture blogging, fitness blogging and nutrition blogging. I even got back into dropping silly pop culture references.

I guess that means it’s time to start nagging you about micronutrients and dietary supplementation. That being the case, let’s begin with an oldie, but a goodie, and stop me if you’ve heard this before.

On second thought, forget it, I’m on a roll.

Vitamin D

What about Vitamin D? What’s it good for?

How about, as a start, healthy

  • Bones
  • Heart
  • Joints
  • Muscles
  • Skin

Vitamin D helps your immune system in general and in particular to help protect against respiratory infections. You know, respiratory infections like the Kung Flu.

So now that we’ve crossed the midway point of May, and spring finally seems to be rearing its long awaited head, getting your vitamin D should be easy. So, maybe…

Go outside and take a walk.

The research on Vitamin D is all over the map. I just read an article that first quoted the British NIH saying you need 600 – 800 units a day, and half a page later said the Mayo Clinic says up to 4000 units a day.

Which to believe? I don’t know, one of the world’s foremost research hospitals, or the bureaucracy that is more concerned with political correctness than with your health? Seriously, the British NIH recently threatened to deny healthcare to people based on their political opinions. Screw the NIH, Imma go with Mayo.

Anyway, there are some risks to taking too much vitamin D: because Vitamin D is important in the metabolization of calcium and, having too much floating around can put you at risk for heart, vascular and kidney problems.

So maybe don’t take too many supplements. Instead, I don’t know, maybe…

Go outside and take a walk.

I have yet to see anybody make the claim you can get too much Vitamin D from the sun.

Sunburn? Yes.

Skin cancer? Yes.

Vitamin D? No. So, and stop me if you’ve heard this already, maybe…

Go outside and take a walk.

Just don’t stay out until you’re a broiled lobster.