Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency:

• Arthritis
• Burning sensation in the mouth and throat
• Diarrhea
• Fast heartbeat
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle cramps and tics
• Nearsightedness
• Nosebleeds
• Osteomalacia
• Psoriasis
• Rickets
• Slow healing
• Soft teeth
• Visual problems
• Weight loss 

The recommended RDA of Vitamin D for children is 1000 International Units (IU).

The recommended RDA of Vitamin D for adults is between 400-2000 IU

What Vitamin D Does:

• Enhances immunity
• Helps in all eye problems including spots, conjunctivitis and glaucoma
• May help in the treatment of psoriasis
• May be helpful in the treatment of cancer
• Necessary for growth
• Necessary for thyroid function and normal blood clotting
• Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and hypocalcemia
• Protects against colon cancer
• Protects against muscle weakness and is involved in regulation of the heartbeat
• Required for the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus by the intestinal tract
• Works with vitamin A to utilize calcium and phosphorus in building bone structure and healthy teeth.  

SUNSHINE is the BEST source of Vitamin D!

FOOD SOURCES of Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol):

• Butter (organic is best if you have any allergies at all as it’s lower in pesticides and herbicides)
• Dairy products (added)
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Eggs
• Fatty saltwater fish
• Fish liver oils
• Halibut
• Liver
• Oatmeal
• Nuts and seeds
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Sweet potatoes
• Tuna
• Vegetable oils
• Yogurt 

Herb Sources for Vitamin D:

• Alfalfa
• Dandelion greens
• Horsetail
• Nettle
• Parsley  

Other Sources and Name Brands for Vitamin D:

• Sunlight-Sunshine makes vitamin D in the skin
• Cod liver oil
• Tanning beds
• Calcium with Vitamin D in it
• Cataplex D (Standard Process)
• Calcifood (Standard Process)

My feeling is that we are seeing lots of osteoporosis these days because we are not eating the oils that our cells have memory for from many generations back. If we don’t get those oils in our diets, then the calcium can’t suck into the cells and therefore into our bones. A couple of great oils that keep coming up time and again for humans are olive oil, Udo’s Choice Oil blend, Salmon oil and sometimes Sunflower oil. It appears that lots of clients are on Flax Seed oil, but they just don’t test out that they need it.

Vitamin D Side Effects:

Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins. This means your body stores the excess. Excess vitamin D is stored in the liver. Over time, I feel we’re going to see lots of clients with these side effects just like we’re seeing lots of problems with excess calcium because people are not taking the best supplements suited for their body type. Anyway, here are the side effects of Vitamin D overdose:

• Chronic fatigue
• Constipation
• Dehydration
• Depression
• Eye soreness
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Muscle pain or weakness
• Pain in the bones
• Vomiting

Note that some of these symptoms are the same for not getting enough calcium but remember that you can’t overdose on calcium by eating calcium rich foods or spending time in the sun. Your skin knows how much vitamin D to make.

Cautions & Comments about Vitamin D:

• Air pollution, anti-convulsant drugs and lack of sunlight deplete Vitamin D
• Do not take vitamin D without calcium
• Dosages greater than 1,000 I.U. daily are not recommended
• Intestinal disorders and liver and gallbladder malfunctions interfere with the absorption of Vitamin D
• Drug Interactions: Some cholesterol-lowering drugs, antacids, mineral oil, and steroid hormones (cortisone) also interfere with absorption
• Drug Interactions: Thiazide diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril) and hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, HydroDIURIL, Oretic) disturb the body’s Calcium/Vitamin D ratio
• Vitamin D is the most toxic of all the vitamins, causing nausea, vomiting, headache and depression, deposition of calcium into internal organs and kidney stones.