Vitamin D can do wonders for your heart!

Most everyone these days understands the importance of vitamin D for bone health and to avoid osteoporosis. Unfortunately, the mainstream  has a difficult time moving beyond the “minimum” levels required for healthy bones. But vitamin D has many functions beyond bone health. In fact, virtually every organ in the body has receptors for vitamin D. Nature would not put the receptors there if there were not important functions in all cells.

And the simple fact is, you need much higher amounts  to reach optimum levels. Ones that offer the broad range of healthy effects vitamin D can deliver.

A new study from Denmark measured levels of vitamin D in the blood (which is more precise than dietary studies that assess nutrient intakes).1 Researchers followed over 10,000 women and men over 30 years. And they found that those with higher levels of vitamin D cut the risk of developing heart disease nearly in half.

Further, the risk of premature death from all causes was cut by more than half. The number of actual heart attacks was cut by two-thirds. And overall death from heart disease was cut by over four-fifths.

While these statistics from Denmark are very impressive, researchers don’t yet know how vitamin D manages to have its effects on the heart. It may be that lower vitamin D levels are simply a marker of poor health in general.

Citations:

1 “25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease, Myocardial Infarction, and Early Death.” ATVBAHA 112.248039. Published online before print August 30, 2012.

Either way, minimal levels that simply help you avoid frank clinical deficiency in terms of bone health just aren’t enough. Whether you’re trying to support your heart, your immune system, or your general health.

Unfortunately, especially at northern latitudes like Denmark, it is virtually impossible to get optimal vitamin D levels from the diet and sunshine alone. Most people would be well advised to consider a high-quality vitamin D supplement (2,000 IU per day). You can find all the details about doses, dietary sources, sunshine, and supplementation in the October 2012 issue of Insiders’ Cures.