The importance of a little sunshine...

Once again, we are reminded of the power of a little ray of sunshine, as Vitamin D is not only demonstrated to support optimum immune function but has also been demonstrated to increase the effectiveness of a calorie-controlled diet.

How Vitamin D could help make your diet a success

According to a study, vitamin D has now been linked to successful weight loss among those who are dieting. This research, which was conducted in the US, indicates that for every 1 ng/ml increase in the level of 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol (a measure of vitamin D status), individuals on a calorie-restricted diet lost around 0.2kg more. In addition, it was discovered that for every 1 ng/ml increase in the active form of the vitamin, test subjects lost a further 0.107kg.

The lead author of the study, Shalamar Sibley MD, gleans a ground-breaking suggestion based on the results - adding vitamin D to calorie-restricted diets can exacerbate weight loss and lead to more dramatic results.

These findings are particularly interesting to dieticians and doctors working within the western world, where obesity rates are not only high but continuing to rise, and where effective weight management practices are seen as key to addressing this issue.

Vitamin D: How it works and its role in the body

When we reference vitamin D, what we’re actually referring to are two biologically inactive precursors: D2, also known as ergocalciferol, and D3, or cholecalciferol. The latter, which is more bioactive, is produced when the skin is exposed to UVB radiation.

As a rule, our bodies are able to produce this naturally when they come into contact with sunlight, but in certain parts of the world, the level of sunshine is insufficient for this process. This is most commonly seen in the northern hemisphere during the winter months when certain populations are unable... read full article