Vitamin D Essential to Weight Loss Efforts

(Article first published as Vitamin D Shown to Slash Belly Fat, Assist Natural Weight Loss on Technorati.)

Excess body weight and abdominal obesity represent an astounding threat to the health of millions of men, women and children worldwide. Over the past century obesity has been relatively rare, affecting less than 1% of the population at the turn of the 20^th century. Today the number of obese individuals is 34% and continues to grow steadily.

We have become grossly deficient in vitamin D as we shun sun exposure and rely on inept supplemental recommendations. Researchers have discovered that this super nutrient is required to metabolize stored fat and that more than 60% of people tested are severely deficient. You can help your body burn abdominal fat and lose weight naturally by regulating your vitamin D intake.

Study Shows Vitamin D Becomes Locked in Fat Cells

The results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reveals that 59% of young women tested had too little circulating vitamin D and nearly one-quarter were grossly deficient in the active form of the vitamin. Vitamin D insufficiency has been shown to be a factor in the accumulation of excess body fat as the fat-soluble vitamin becomes locked away in adipocytes (fat cells). In the absence of sufficient vitamin D the body increases the number and size of newly formed fat cells that promote and accelerate abdominal obesity.

Low Vitamin D Linked to Fat Accumulation and Cancer

Vitamin D is actually a prohormone that becomes activated in the kidneys to become a potent hormone that controls of the growth of cells. In the absence of sufficient circulating levels of the active form, both adipocytes and cancer cells are allowed to multiply relatively unchecked. Sufficient levels of vitamin D signal fat cells to shrink. This makes weight loss much easier when calories are restricted and also keeps cancer cell growth in check.

Checking Vitamin D Levels to Assist Weight Loss

The only way to know if you are vitamin D deficient is with a simple blood test. Be sure to have the prohormone blood level checked with a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) test. Most experts agree that the proper level to ensure complete cell saturation is between 50 and 70 ng/ml.

The erenced study found that every 1 ng/ml increase in blood level translated to an additional half-pound of lost body weight. This same level has also been shown to lower the risk from many cancer lines up to 78%. Most people will need to supplement with 2,000 to 10,000 IU daily to reach the proper saturation point. People with dark skin, higher body weight and advancing age will require higher doses of vitamin D.

Research has shown that vitamin D ranks among the most essential nutrients to promote human health. Our ancestors evolved in a sun drenched environment with nearly full body exposure for most of the day. We made large amounts of the vitamin in our skin and reaped amazing health benefits. Today we use sun screen and avoid the sun. The small amounts of vitamin D we may have become locked away in fat cells and perpetuate obesity. Ensure you have enough of this critical nutrient circulating in your blood to promote vibrant health and natural weight loss.

Due to lack of vitamin D can cause dangerous diseases

Health for human | Lack of sunlight is known associated with various diseases, ranging from the flu, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Several studies have been referring to a substance contained in the important sun exposure, namely vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency appeared to result in serious consequences for health, especially in sub-tropical countries that have little exposure to sunlight. This is the reason the countrys population often sunbathe on the beach.

Vitamin D not only helps the body absorb calcium is important for bone, but also play a role in the immune system by helping reduce inflammation. Suspected chronic inflammation can lead to heart disease and cancer. Here are some of the dangerous diseases caused by vitamin D deficiency include:

1. diabetes
A study in 2011 and found that obese children who have low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes as adults. Whereas in adults who have low vitamin D levels, the likelihood of type 2 diabetes rose to 57 percent.

2. cancer
A study published in the British Medical Journal showed that people in her blood contained a lot of vitamin D had 40 percent lower risk of developing colon cancer compared with people who have low levels of vitamins.

3. multiple sclerosis
The researchers also said there is a relationship between vitamin D deficiency with multiple sclerosis, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis is most common in people who live far from the equator and just a little exposure to sunlight.

4. rheumatoid arthritis
Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis. In a study conducted in January 2012, among the babies who died suddenly, at 75 per cent were found to be deficient in vitamin D.

How to get your intake of sunlight?

Sunlight provides 90 percent of vitamin D the body needs. When the heat and ultraviolet light touches the skin, the production of vitamin D is activated. In food, the main natural sources are liver and fish oil. Eggs contain small amounts of vitamin D, as well as some foods such as cereals, fresh fruit juices and yogurt fortified with vitamin D.

"A serving of fortified foods only provide nearly 20 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin D. It is difficult to get all of their vitamin D from food alone," said Catherine Collins, a dietician at St Georges Hospital.

Many people avoid going out without wearing sunscreen and then end up with a deficiency of vitamin D. Research has found that people who were diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, are the ones with the lowest levels of vitamin D.

To meet the ideal intake of vitamin D, sun exposure on a regular basis during the summer is very necessary. Duration is about 10 to 15 minutes each day without sunscreen at 11:00 to 15:00, when the sun is hot - heat it.

The ability of the body make vitamin D decreases with age. People aged over 65 years are advised to consume a vitamin D supplement 10 mcg per day. Dark-skinned people do not produce vitamin with ease. Nursing mothers and pregnant women should consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplements to ensure their children have healthy bone and protected from osteoporosis later in life.

Fat people should also take supplements, because vitamin D can be locked into the fat cells and can not be used by the body. Children aged 6 months - 5 years should be taking vitamin D supplements as much as 7 mcg every day because his bones are going through a critical stage of development. Vitamin D deficiency rickets has led to a surge of cases drastically.