Originally published March 26 2013
Supercharge your brain with sunshine
by Dr. David Jockers
(NaturalNews) Researchers believe that vitamin D3 acts to protect an aging brain and boost overall memory and cognitive function. This is thought to be done by increasing levels of protective antioxidants, increasing key hormones and suppressing a hyperactive immune system that can inflame the neurological circuitry. Sun charge your brain for maximal cognitive function. The sun provides our body with essential stress through its UV radiation. This UV radiation stress signals a molecule on the skin (7-dehydrocholesterol) to convert to the active form of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) in the body.
Vitamin D is more hormone than vitamin
Vitamin D resembles a hormone more than vitamin by function. Hormones are chemical messengers that interact with cell receptors to produce specific biological responses. Calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, is arguably the most powerful hormone in the body. It has the ability to activate over 2,000 genes (roughly 10 percent of the human genome).
There are vitamin D receptors throughout the central nervous system and critical regions of the brain including the hippocampus. Researchers have concluded that vitamin D activates and deactivates enzymes in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid that are involved in nerve growth,
synaptic density and neurotransmitter synthesis.
Vitamin D3 is also shown to boost glutathione production in the neuronal cells protecting them from damage inflicted by oxidative stress. Vitamin D also helps to modulate the immune system to reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Vitamin D boosts cognitive acceleration
A 2009 study led by scientists at the University of Manchester in England, looked at vitamin D levels and cognitive performance in more than 3,100 men aged 40 to 79 in eight different countries across Europe. The data showed that those people with lower vitamin D levels exhibited slower cognitive processing speed.
Vitamin D deficiency is a current epidemic in our society affecting 90 percent of the world's population. According to vitamin D expert Michael Holick, "We estimate that vitamin D deficiency is the most common medical condition in the world." It is clear that most people are not getting enough healthy sun exposure.
Vitamin D deficiencies increase brain degenerative processes
A 2010 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that those who are classified as deficient in vitamin D were 42 percent more likely to have cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, those classified as severely deficient were 394 percent more likely to have cognitive impairment.
"The odds of cognitive impairment increase as vitamin D levels go down," says study author David Llewellyn. "Given that both vitamin D deficiency and dementia are common throughout the world, this is a major public health concern."
Tips for healthy sun exposure and vitamin D production
The ideal amount of sun exposure should produce somewhere in the range of 10,000-20,000 IU of vitamin D3. This depends on the amount of body parts exposed, the strength or angle of the sun and the color of the individual's skin.
This is the approximate amount of time each individual skin type needs of sun exposure to get the appropriate 10,000-20,000 IU considering that at least 60 percent of the body is exposed
to sunlight. This would be equivalent to intentionally sun bathing. They should get this amount at least three times weekly in order to fully optimize vitamin D3 levels.
1. Light skin = 15-20 minutes daily
Medium skin = 25-30 minutes daily
Dark skin = 40-45 minutes daily
2. Use coconut oil, aloe vera and/or green tea extract as a moisturizer
before and after sun exposure for added antioxidant protection.
3. If adequate sunlight is not available or attainable, then supplement with 8,000-10,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.naturalnews.com/026811_Vitamin_D_healthy_brain.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/029764_vitamin_D_healthy_skin.html
http://www.sparkpeople.com
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=225745
http://www.scientificamerican.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/033035_sun_exposure_sunscreen.html
About the author:
Dr David Jockers is a Maximized Living doctor and owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Georgia where he specializes in functional nutrition, functional medicine and corrective chiropractic care to get to the underlying cause of major health problems.
His website features great articles on natural health and incredible recipes. He is the author of the best-selling book SuperCharge Your Brain - the complete guide to radically improve your mood, memory and mindset. He has over 50,000 active followers on his social media and email newsletter and is a big influencer in the Primal Health movement.
Dr. Jockers is also available for long distance consultations and health coaching to help you beat disease and reach your health goals. For more information got to www.drjockers.com
Dr David Jockers is a Maximized Living doctor and owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Georgia where he specializes in functional nutrition, functional medicine and corrective chiropractic care to get to the underlying cause of major health problems.
His website features great articles on natural health and incredible recipes. He is the author of the best-selling book SuperCharge Your Brain - the complete guide to radically improve your mood, memory and mindset. He has over 50,000 active followers on his social media and email newsletter and is a big influencer in the Primal Health movement.
Dr. Jockers is also available for long distance consultations and health coaching to help you beat disease and reach your health goals. For more information got to www.drjockers.com
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