Juicing For Health - Vegan Vitamin D Deficiency Information
Vegan Vitamin D Deficiency Information
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin, so coined because exposure to the suns ultraviolet (UV) light will convert a form of cholesterol under the skin into vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked and implicated in a variety of illnesses such as auto-immune diseases, bone disorders( osteoporosis and rickets), depression, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, influenza, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and weakened immune system. Studies have shown those with higher blood levels of Vitamin D have reduced incidences of various cancers as well as many other degenerative diseases.
Individuals who are deficient in vitamin D will also have problems with absorption of the mineral calcium which can have a further knock on effect to health.
Vitamin D Deficiency Causes/Risks
Vegans are at a higher risk of developing Vitamin D deficiency as there is no reliable dietary plant source of Vitamin D. Fortified foods such as cereals are usually not vegan either. Those with dark pigmented skin, the elderly, who use sunscreen excessively, suffer from mal-absorption disorders and people who stay indoors often or cover up when going out are also at increased risk of deficiency.
Pregnant women, growing children and breast-feeding women also have increased need for Vitamin D because it is required for growth.
The risk of deficiency doesn’t just apply to vegans and vegetarians, omnivores have also shown in numerous studies to be low or deficient in vitamin D. This tends to get worse as the colder months come in around this time of year, the sunlight simply isnt strong enough to stimulate the reaction required for the body to manufacture vitamin D.
Sunny Holidays & Vitamin D
I recently have tested very low in Vitamin D once again, this is largely my own fault as i spend most of the first half of the day indoors, thus miss what little sunlight we get here in the UK. The summer here in the UK just past was one of the worst in my opinion, we had some days of ok sunshine but alot of the time it was miserable as usual. I try to make it away on holiday once a year if i can to boost my vitamin D levels naturally as a vegan, unfortunately this year due to work i couldn’t. Also if you spend your holiday in the sun heavily drinking alcohol i personally wouldnt expect huge increases in topping up your vitamin D levels. Proper kidney and liver function is needed to form active vitamin D3.
Vegan Vitamin D3 Spray
For a while now you might have heard about the first fully Vegan active Vitamin D3 supplement in the works and its finally here. We have been working for the past month to get it in stock and have now added it to our product range over at our store.
The Vitashine Vitamin D3 Spray is registered with both the Vegan and Vegetarian Society. It boasts a generous 1000IU per 5 spray dose, once i have built my own levels back up i will likely continue to supplement at 1 spray a day which equals 200IU i.e 100% of the RDA for Vitamin D to be on the safe side.
To purchase the Vitamin D3 Vegan Spray follow this link Vitashine Vegan Vitamin D3 Spray UK.
Recommended Herbal Retailers
Indigo Herbs are a good retailer of herbal powders and superfood products, if you wish to purchase these please use the link below as it helps keep our site running. Thanks.
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