A few years ago it seemed that we finally had an answer to why the Western world was so fat and disease-stricken: vitamin D deficiency. Nearly every doctor and nutritionist in the land was touting the magical health benefits of this particular vitamin. "Fix your low levels of vitamin D," they'd say "and watch you diabetes and heart disease melt away like snow in the desert.
While it's true that lacking this vitamin is a serious health problem, it's not a magic bullet that's going to cure the world's ills. Vitamin D should be part of your overall healthy lifestyle that includes:
- weight management,
- diabetic-friendly eating, and
- daily physical activity.
No vitamin or mineral is going to replace the benefits of living healthfully... not even a "magic" one like vitamin D.
But this doesn't mean this vitamin isn't especially important for diabetics. It is. Research published in the April 2011 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that those with low vitamin D levels were more susceptible to Type 2 diabetes.
This isn't actually groundbreaking news... many earlier studies have made this connection. But what makes the results of this study so interesting is it describes a potential mechanism for vitamin D deficiency and diabetes.
Earlier research had suspected vitamin D's role in the immune system may explain why those deficient in this vitamin were more prone to Type 2 diabetes. They thought the increase in inflammation the deficiency of this vitamin brings to the table may interfere with insulin activity.
This may be the case, but this study adds a new layer (literally) to the vitamin D/Type 2 diabetes connection. This research found those with a vitamin D deficiency were much more likely to have large amounts of visceral fat in their body. Visceral fat is not like the flab that you can pinch. This stuff is embedded deep inside of your abdomen. Even though you can't see it, it wreaks havoc on your body by turning your abdominal area into an inflammation factory.
No matter what the cause, making sure you are getting enough vitamin D is important for your health. The first step is to get screened for your vitamin D status. It's the only way that you'll know where you stand. If you're deficient, stick to the supplements your doctor will give you. Once those run out, continue to take at least 1000 IU of vitamin D per day.
You may also want to consider getting a bit of sunlight in the spring and summer months. According to Michael Holick of the Boston University, 15 minutes of sunlight per day is enough to keep vitamin deficiency at bay.
To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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