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We need to talk. <\/p>\nWe need to talk. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about?\u201d you ask. <\/p>\n
About a vitamin that just about everyone says is great for you cardiovascular health. Even most respected natural health experts. <\/p>\n
Reality: it can actually damage your cardiovascular system. Severely. By hardening your blood vessels, for example, along with all the resulting complications. <\/p>\n
The unfortunate bit of all this: half of all patients over 60 are strongly encouraged to stock up on this vitamin. <\/p>\n
How will you make sure you’re not one who’s taking too much of this vitamin?<\/p>\n
Well, here’s a quick way: first, find out what vitamin we’re talking about. <\/p>\n
The investigation group from the Johns Hopkins Medical School looked at data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2006 involving 15,000 participants. <\/p>\n
None of the survey participants had cardiovascular-related conditions, but fairly low amounts of vitamin D. <\/p>\n
The results of the survey brought to light an interesting connection between vitamin D levels and CRP \u2013a known marker for cardiovascular inflammation associated with stiffening of blood vessels. <\/p>\n
Researchers found that study participants who had what was considered \u201cnormal\u201d levels of vitamin D had significantly lower levels of inflammation.<\/p>\n
However, they also discovered that any additional increase of vitamin D in blood levels was related to a significantly heightened risk for CRP (a marker of cardiovascular inflammation).<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, it is important to understand that vitamin D is crucial to our cardiovascular health, especially when levels of vitamin D are too low. <\/p>\n
Many studies proved that optimum vitamin D levels reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and even reduce mortality. <\/p>\n
On the other hand, there can<\/strong> be too much of a good thing, posing unnecessary health risks to people who take vitamin D supplements. <\/p>\n Health care providers should be aware of the potential risks of overloading on vitamin D and recommend it only when there is an obvious need for it. <\/p>\n Remember that the best source of vitamin D is sunshine. A daily walk outside for at least 20 minutes in the morning will ensure that you have the optimal levels of vitamin D in your system. <\/p>\n And you can never overdose on vitamin D from sunlight. Your body will just stop taking it in.<\/p>\n However, if you are not sure if you lack or have too much of this vitamin, talk to your physician and ask for a blood test to determine your vitamin D levels. <\/p>\n The generally accepted recommended blood levels of vitamin D are 50-70 nanograms per milliliter (ng\/ml) <\/p>\n However, if you do need to supplement with vitamin D, at least make sure that you are using vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and NOT Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). <\/p>\n Vitamin D3 is the same type of vitamin D as produced in our bodies in response to sunshine. <\/p>\n Vitamin D 2 is a synthetic form of vitamin D, typically prescribed by doctors.<\/p>\n