Vitamin D [Archive] - Raw Food Talk

jamesey

08-05-2009, 12:36 PM

Hi,

Just some questions regarding a Vitamin D Deficiency. Has anyone here had a Vitamin D Deficiency? I suspect I might have, but am going to try and go for a blood test to confirm.

But for one who does have a Deficiency, what do you do about it? Obviously more sunshine exposure, but what about the tablets? I've done a bit of reading, and you can basically take a standard daily Vitamin D capsules, or take Higher Strength ones, either in the form of capsule or liquid, which can be taken weekly or monthly, as they are a higher strength. And because they are higher in strength, one with a high deficiency of Vitamin will see results more quickly than a standard daily supplement. But my question is, are Vitamin D supplements safe - particularly the Higher Strength ones? I've also read you can go to have a Vitamin D injection that lasts for 6 months, but I'm not so sure about that. But any thoughts on this would be great!

TaupeRawMan

08-05-2009, 01:49 PM

Hi Jamesey - it is really good you are looking into this.

I was diagnosed with a deficiency a couple of months ago and have been taking these drops - http://www.purecaps.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=VDL. I am taking 7000iu per day for 8 weeks and then will go to 2000iu per day. I get lots of sunshine, but that hasn't kept me from being deficient. Because of this defiency, I lost 20% bone in 4 years. Now that I am supplementing with the D, my blood D levels have doubled (still very deficient, but that was only after 3 weeks of supplementation). My doctor has done other tests and it shows the bone is rebuilding as well.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions.

jamesey

08-05-2009, 02:42 PM

hi TaupeRawMan - i really appreciate your reply - glad that you know about this! I will look around the web for that product you use, I'm from the UK so i will have to hope that stock it over here, but i could always get it imported. Again, i will hopefully go in for blood tests soon.. i want to test for Vitamin D, and B12. If it is confirmed, then yes.. you may hear more from me!!

Could i just ask, did you feel unhealthy and had niggles before you got the Vitamin D deficiency confirmed? I guess you can eat the best and varied raw foods in the world but if you are deficient in Vitamin D, it can't be replaced in food!!

T-Bird

08-05-2009, 04:09 PM

what's a niggles???

I think I will get tested too!

snoops

08-05-2009, 06:49 PM

I was tested and my numbers are low even though I have been taking 2000IU's for the past year!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

cara4art

08-05-2009, 09:57 PM

I'm seriously considering getting onto vitamin D myself, as we don't get a whole lot of regular sun here in SF, as often it is too cool to sunbathe regularly, even though I don't wear sunblocks. From what other people are saying, it's quite likely I'm also deficient, so I'm getting started very soon on this, and D3(the best oral form)is pretty reasonable in price too. The D3 is excellent for building up immunity to winter illnesses - even mainstream docs are saying this in addition to natural practitioners. D is good for a LOT of stuff. I'm not a huge believer in taking every supplement that comes down the pike by any means, but a few good ones can be useful, even with a very clean diet.
To snoops: seems like you might need to be taking more of this, like at least twice as much, or your body just might not be utilizing what you are taking - just a thought off the top of my head here! Best of luck with this!

iluvmangos

08-05-2009, 10:06 PM

Just so you know, D3 usually isn't vegan. It's usually derived from lanolin (sheep) or fish. It can be produced by plants and fungi, but it's usually derived from an animal source. You might wanna check with the manufacturer.

TaupeRawMan

08-05-2009, 10:48 PM

jamesey

08-06-2009, 02:57 AM

thanks tauperawman and everyone else for the replies.

i've read that high strength Vitamin D supplements are 1000iu, and that any higher needs o be monitored by a doctor and with blood tests.

snoops

08-06-2009, 07:56 AM

They give MS patients up to 10,000 with no toxic effects so I would think anything close to 2000 - 5000 would not need doctor supervision. Just a blook test occasionally to see how it is going.

smiley

08-06-2009, 12:02 PM

I just did a search and found that mushrooms and sunflower sprouts are good sources of Vitamin D. I personally love sunflower sprouts.

Also, spend some time in the sun without sunblock or sunscreen. I recommend that you find a private spot and lay out naked for 10 minutes on each side. I personally spend a lot of time naked in the sun...I love it! :cool:

The standards that are used in a Dr.'s office are for an average SAD eater. As raw vegans, our numbers will typically be lower. I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

Remember the big study that came out a few years ago: it said that raw vegans only get an average of 500mg of calcium (when we are supposed to be getting like 1200mg) yet, their bone turnover was excellent and showed no signs of osteoporosis.

I completely believe that as our body is getting healthier that it goes through many changes...sometimes it gets worse before it gets better...but it always gets better. :D

Raw Angel Mom

08-06-2009, 12:41 PM

Blood analyste is a good idea.

I am supplementing but i am also trying something more beside: Not wearing sunglasses (eye do absorb the vitamin D) AND not wearing sun lotion; i will shower before i go to the sun for the reason that i will only wash my body part that wasn't expose to the sun. For the good reason: Apparently that the vitamin D gets store in our natural oil on the surface of the skin, it cans take 72 hours to be absorbed by the skin.

Make a commitment to go as much as you can to the sun in the morning (up to one hour after sunrise), evening (one hour before sunset) and cloudy day are the safest time to avoid the dangerous radiation, the rest of the day just enough not to have a sun burn ever. I never allow myself to get a sun burn.

If you leave in a cold place, you must spend more time in the sun during the summer to bank for the winter.

I take a vegan vitamin D during the winter/fall time and occasionally the rest of the time.

raw runner

08-06-2009, 01:23 PM

you must eat white mushrooms or champignons de paris...fully loaded with vitamin D and stop the stimulants like cacao or coffee if you take them...

T-Bird

08-06-2009, 01:59 PM

The standards that are used in a Dr.'s office are for an average SAD eater. As raw vegans, our numbers will typically be lower. I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

I've seen this written here before.

Why is it assumed that it's ok for ours to be lower? Neglecting these deficiencies can have long range repercussions. Where is a study indicating that a lower levels of these vitamins are not an issue?

These are the types of nutrients that can be silently deficient for years - even decades - and then terrible damage can be discovered.

While I love the raw vegan deal - in it's present day for, it is NOT our natural diet. We are not ingesting bugs on every lettuce leaf, and traces of fecal matter on everything we consume. We aren't outside 24/7. Do these things make a critical difference?? I'd like to see some research...

coco

08-06-2009, 02:52 PM

wow, how in the world does one become so deficient in vit d? that's wild. and scary!

snoops

08-06-2009, 03:25 PM

wow, how in the world does one become so deficient in vit d? that's wild. and scary!

Because we are not in the sun all the time. And so many people slather on sunscreen that blocks the vitamin D absorption as well. And us raw vegans do not drink milk that has been fortified with vitamin D. If you live north of northern California you are not getting enough direct sun in the year.

We evolved living in lower latitudes where there is plenty of sunshine - the best source of Vitamin D.

smiley

08-06-2009, 03:43 PM

Why is it assumed that it's ok for ours to be lower? Neglecting these deficiencies can have long range repercussions. Where is a study indicating that a lower levels of these vitamins are not an issue?

There's many studies that show that eating less calories leads to a longer quality life. If you eat less, you are bound to get less vitamins, minerals, and nutrients than the RDA...and yet, many studies show that this will help lead a better quality life. Please research this.

Also, remember the big study that came out a few years ago: it said that raw vegans only get an average of 500mg of calcium (when the RDA says we should get 1200mg) yet, their bone turnover was excellent and showed no signs of osteoporosis.

I believe that you need the majority of your nutrition when you are growing...as adults, we just need to maintain.

Please know that I'm sharing my point of view...I understand that yours may be different. :cool:

sprouts2go

08-06-2009, 04:35 PM

I watched a video on you tube by Kevin Gianni about vit D so I had mine tested at my annual exam. I had 12 out of a 30-80 range so I am very low. I also had a bone densitty done amd I have osteopenia.
My son had his exam and I had his tested also. He has 19 out of the 30-80 range so he has to have more too.
I heard that 1 out 0f 2 people have low Vit D some say as high as 9 out of 10 people. I am telling all my friends to get tested.
I tried a Vit D3 that was plant based and broke out in a rash. I might have to just go with what the doctor tells me.

snoops

08-06-2009, 04:40 PM

I have read that you need minimum 55 and preferably 70 plus to be getting all the talked about benefits of vitamin D. My reading was 43 after a year of taking 2000IU a day. I guess that's better than 12 or 19.:eek:

jamesey

08-07-2009, 02:15 PM

just come back from the doctors to ask for a Vitamin D and B12 blood test... he said fine about the Vitamin B12 but isn't sure if they can do Vitamin D!!!! I can't believe this.. I guess I'm just going to have to find out when I go for the blood test.. Seems strange!

T-Bird

08-07-2009, 03:02 PM

is it about the test capabilities or the payment from insurance?

jamesey

08-08-2009, 04:10 PM

test compabilities i presume.. nevermind, i shall see.. if they don't i'll have to go private..

morkelkey

08-10-2009, 01:08 AM

Hi JAmesey,
Test capability !
Please, you can try.
You are success.
After you can decide which one is the best for you,
Thanks.

jamesey

08-16-2009, 04:16 AM

TaupeRawMan

08-16-2009, 01:14 PM

What is the best/safest form of Vitamin D to take? I did find a Vitamin D in liquid form, labelled as D3. Like someone mentioned earlier, this is made from Sheepskin oil, which sounds digusting! Is all D3 and/or liquid of Vitamin D made from this? Otherwise is D2 safer, althouugh ive read 2-3 times less effective? Really i just want the safest form!!

Hi Jamesey -

I researched this a lot and found that, for me, Vitamin D3 in the liquid form was going to be the purest most useable form for my body.

Factoid

08-16-2009, 05:05 PM

T-bird - good points. I'm worried about this.

Jamesey: Presume you were talking about whether Vit D test is on the NHS? Is it? What about a bone scan? I need to get these done.

jamesey

08-17-2009, 04:54 AM

thanks again TaupeRawMan for the info. i shall think about the Vitamin D3 Liquid again than.. at least i know its working for you ;)

Factoid - Yes went for the blood test last Thursday, on the NHS at my local hospital. The lady who did my blood test had to ask 2 or 3 times to a collegue how to exactly test for the Vitamin D, I kept hering about "gold rings" regarding it, I think it must of been her first time doing a test for Vitamin D, and in that regard, I cannot help but think Vitamin D tests are hardly done. I didn't go for a bone scan - i didn't really think about it, but a bone scan im guessing could easily be done. But seeing as i was going for a blood test for Vitamin D I also had the test checked for B12 as well.