THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN

Dear Readers,

It has been a slow day today. The weather's a tad bit gloomy and endless cups of coffee have been at my disposal since morning.

I had just reviewed some blood results for patients due for bio-identical hormones. It is our standard preliminary assessment whereby the whole range of hormones are evaluated. Much rightly so, since all the hormones are connected in uncountable ways.

What I have discovered amidst sheets and sheets of test reports, is that almost everyone appears to be deficient in vitamin D. This has come as a bit of an eye opener to me, 9 out of 10 people seem to be lacking in this suave hormone cum mineral entity. There is no statistical evidence to that data, just an observation on my side. Men and women alike, differing age groups and ethnicity - all share the patriotic similarity of being short of vitamin D. Talk about unity at a micronutrient level.

This has prompted me (in addition, to all the caffeine that has gone in), to write an article on Vitamin D and its " playing hard to get" status quo. Especially, when it has been offered to us in its abundance: sunlight.
I think its fair, to have just assumed all of us get plenty of this sunny vitamin.

Apparently not.

So lets just briefly discuss the attributes of this molecule:

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods.  It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements is biologically inert and needs to be activated by the liver & kidneys.

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations. This is highly important for bone health and remodelling.

Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation. Many genes encoding proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are modulated in part by vitamin D.

Causes of Vitamin D deficiency:

• Nutritional deficiency - inadequate intake. Vitamin D-deficient diets are associated with milk allergy, lactose intolerance, ovo-vegetarianism, and veganism.
• Limited exposure to sunlight
• People with dark skin - increased skin melanin reduces Vitamin D synthesis.
• Elderly people - reduced rate of synthesis
• Prolonged breast feeding of infants
• Inflammatory bowel disease or poor gut health - leads reduced absorption of vitamin D.
• Compromised renal function
• Obesity - greater amounts of subcutaneous fat sequester more of the vitamin and alter its release into the circulation
• Excessive sunscreen
• Northern latitudes
• Air Pollution
• Anti-Epileptic or HIV medications

 

So please don't underestimate the grand role of this vitamin.

Get your dose of sunlight from 10am to 3pm, about 15-20 minutes daily - a little longer if you are darker skinned.

Eat foods that can increase your levels naturally like: salmon, cod fish, eggs, fortified milk & cereals, cheese, mushrooms, apricot, squash, broccoli, liver and others.

Supplements both oral and sublingual are available for those with severe deficiencies. However, I strongly recommend a doctors consult prior to starting these.

Keep your gut healthy with balanced foods, adequate fibre and probiotics. A well oiled gut will aid in vitamin D absorption.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dysfunction of the kidneys.

Maintain a healthy weight so that there is no sequestration of vitamin D in the excess visceral fats.

Perform regular blood checks to ensure all hormones are functioning at their optimum.

Vitamin D Rocks!!



Dr. Aarthi Maria

SOULFUL PASSION

 

Dear Readers,

For a change, lets talk about inner beauty. The ever elusive word so subjective in its meaning yet so profound a notion.

The actual source of that twinkle in your eye and that amazing posture that confident purposeful people sport. Where does this inner sparkle come from? Is one just born with it - a result of perfect natural selection or do they painstakingly hone those skills?

In my opinion, inner beauty is a reflection of a harmonious body and mind. It becomes apparent in ourselves when our soul's are being fulfilled.

In the clatter of daily life, the mind becomes a storm - the reservoir of a million thoughts and ideas, all shooting wired up neurons simultaneously. And when this storm begins to rage, the human body begins to bend and shake, trying to live up to the indefinite array of puzzles and worries that spring forth - from disappointingly enough; nothing.

So how does one fulfil their soul? This is a questions I have contemplated long and hard. Should we reach out spiritually and try to connect with the higher forces. Maybe they would have the answers? Or should we instead seek out knowledge and so in its application, we discover life's true meaning? Or could it mean, we " pass it on" - the phrase so passionately coined; that in giving to others, we will reap the joy of purpose. Kudos, to those of you who have pondered along this line. You are by far closer to the truth than the common man who tries to derive fulfilment from his/her partner, job, money or crazily enough a spanking new Masserati.

The soul my friend can only be fulfilled when it becomes one with the passion that defines you.

That time when you wrist is gliding along white canvas splashing paint and creating your eye's masterpiece.

That time when sweat is pouring down your face and the early morning sun is guiding you as you pull yourself up that steep rocky mountain.

That time when your body and the surrounding music unite, and you become one with the chords that's making you spin ever so fast on agile legs you never knew you had.

And that time thoughts spill over like a fountain, and creation is at the tips of your finger - and in a maddening urgency - you write poems that sound like music and rain blended into one.

But unfortunately, what man lacks is the pursuit of his passion. So often, it gets buried beneath stacks of bills, screaming kids, en expanding waistline and a whole other list of reasons. It is of course so much easier to just ignore than intentionally discover what your soul is talented at. We spend our days looking out the window feeling bored, angry, sad - wondering is there any more to life.

So make it an intention today. Step pout of your comfort zone and do the things you have never envisioned doing. Try out a triathlon, write a cook book, start a beauty blog, play squash, learn up Bachata, take up a language, travel the continents - do what it takes, until you feel that slow yet firm comforting warmth of accomplishment. The type that resonates from within, the one that shouts that you are a winner, the one you perform perfectly on your own and not derived from another's creativity or desire.

Life Coaching Rocks.

Dr. Aarthi Maria