#34 Vitamin D (64 Non-Drug ways to lower blood pressure)

Vitamin D treatment, I believe is a miracle.   There is considerable evidence that Vitamin D may play a preventative role in high-blood pressure.

http://highbloodpressure.about.com/od/prevention/a/vitamin-d.htm

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/09/24/vitamin-d-blood-pressure.html
http://www.healthiertalk.com/natural-blood-pressure-regulator-017

…a new study suggests vitamin D deficiency increases white women’s risk for high blood pressure three-fold. Researchers from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health discovered this at the conclusion of a 15-year study, which followed the health statistics of approximately 560 women between the ages of 24 and 44 (average age: 38). Every year, blood work and blood pressure readings were taken; vitamin and mineral deficiencies, if any, were also noted.”

http://www.naturalnews.com/027176_Vitamin_D_health_blood.html

Even the mayo clinic is talking about the role of Vitamin D.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-d/NS_patient-vitamind

“The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Recently, research also suggests vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases.”

Furthermore, the data is really piling up quickly that Vitamin D treatment is miracle result beyond just lower blood pressure.  Cancer incident reduction of 35%  across a broad spectrum of cancers (some up 70% reduction).   If these kind of numbers are even half true — it could mean millions of dollars in health care savings per year, and huge reduction in human suffering.  Significant reduction in diabetes and hypertension also known side benefit of adequate vitamin D.    Without a doubt this finding is a miracle, the answer to prayer of many people struggling with high blood pressure.  Here is something relatively inexpensive, easy to test for, and highly beneficial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ-qekFoi-o&feature=player_embedded
http://video.google.ca/videosearch?hl=en&source=hp&q=cedric%20garland%20vitamin%20d&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#
http://video.google.ca/videosearch?hl=en&source=hp&q=cedric%20garland%20vitamin%20d&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=benefits+of+vitamin+D&hl=en&emb=0
http://www.canada.com/ABCs+vitamin/2081310/story.html

So, the conclusion of all these amazing discoveries is that we all need at least 10 minutes of full sunshine exposure every day.  However, if you happen to live in a Northern part of the world, and if weather is in-appropriate for such exposure (-40C below in Saskatchewan comes to mind), then we have to resort to either sun-lamps, or vitamin D pills.   The research isn’t really clear, but it appears that natural sunlight is best, and vitamin D pills appear to work as a safe substitute.

The next question is how much?  Again, this is harder thing to say.   I’v read various estimates of amounts of vitamin D the body can make – ranging from 5000 IU of vitamin D to 50,000 IU of vitamin D per say 30 minute sun-bathing period.   Most doctors believe that 1000 IU of vitamin D is minimal daily amount to maintain health, and that most persons can easily handle up to 5x that amount. The body can store vitamin D in fat, and apparently does store some.  Apparently it is also possible to overdose — so if your in sunny climate, or northern climate during the spring, summer, and fall, it probably not necessary to take any vitamin D assuming you having a reasonable amount of outside exposure.   However, in the dead of winter, taking up to 5000 IU of vitamin D a day is probably warranted.  Consult your doctor if in doubt, and your doctor can also now check your level of vitamin D with a relatively easy blood test.   Persons over age 50, with darker skin, in high latitudes in the winter months definitely benefit from boosting their Vitamin D intake.   Some foods such as milk come fortified with vitamin D, and others such as fish have natural Vitamin D contributions.  However, it hard to get enough from these sources unless you are really pigging out on milk and fish.

On the advice of my doctor I’ve been taking 3000 IU of vitamin D per day during winter months, for over a year.  Not only has my blood pressure seeming to improve, I’ve noticed a substantial drop in colds and flu problems.

“A short while later, a group of scientists from UCLA published a remarkable paper in the prestigious journal, Nature. The UCLA group confirmed two other recent studies, showing that a naturally occurring steroid hormone – a hormone most of us take for granted – was, in effect, a potent antibiotic. Instead of directly killing bacteria and viruses, the steroid hormone under question increases the body’s production of a remarkable class of proteins, called antimicrobial peptides. The 200 known antimicrobial peptides directly and rapidly destroy the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including the influenza virus, and play a key role in keeping the lungs free of infection. The steroid hormone that showed these remarkable antibiotic properties was plain old vitamin D.”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51913.php