By RA Butters


Without enough vitamin D, women face significantly increased health risks at all stages of life.

Vitamin D has long been recognized for its importance to bone strength, but a growing body of medical evidence indicates that it plays a crucial role in many aspects of health. Though it is the only vitamin that the body can produce, deficiency is alarmingly common. As many as three fourths of the adults and teens in the US are believed to have inadequate levels, and D vitamin deficiency has been identified as a growing health problem all over the world.

Exposure to the sun triggers the skin to manufacture the vitamin, but the body's ability to produce it declines with age. There are relatively few natural food sources of it, and most people get the majority of the vitamin by drinking fortified milk.

Crucial to bone, muscle development in adolescent girls

Recent research by the University of Manchester, UK screened 99 girls between 12 and 14 years of age. 75% of the girls had demonstrably low blood levels of D vitamin, though none of the girls showed symptoms of deficiency.

The researchers then tested the girls' muscle strength and force. The girls who were not deficient scored significantly higher in the strength and force tests than those who were deficient, leading the research team to conclude that the link between deficiency and relative weakness definitely merits further study. The study data highlights the importance of the vitamin to muscle function in adolescent girls, they said, adding that there could be implications for long-term bone development.

Levels particularly important during pregnancy

Studies show that inadequate levels of D vitamin during pregnancy could have a negative impact on many aspects of pregnancy, from increasing the risk of pre-eclampsia to decreasing the length of gestation, birth weight, and odds for good fetal bone development.

It is also believed that sufficiency of the vitamin during pregnancy can actually lower the child's risk of many health problems and diseases later in life.

One of the most important nutrients for women during and after menopause

The hormonal swings of menopause, together with an increasingly indoor-oriented lifestyle and the aging body's decreased ability to manufacture D vitamin, makes deficiency among older women common. This is particularly dangerous, experts say, because low levels of the vitamin significantly increase the risk of osteoporosis, osteomalasia, and hip fractures.

In addition, deficiency has been related to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast cancer, as well as a higher incidence of heart disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and diabetes.

By Kerri Knox

Doctors and Dermatologists for the past several decades have been telling us that virtually any amount of sunlight exposure is terrible for us and that we are going to get skin cancer with even a small amount of exposure.

Dermatologists tell us that we need to wear sunblock and cover up our skin at all costs, yet we are finding that the lack of sunlight exposure is probably contributing to the rise of many chronic illnesses such as heart disease, many different cancers, musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, diabetes and other 'diseases of civilization'.

This lack of sunlight exposure has contributed to very widespread Vitamin D Deficiency across the western world. Now that researchers and doctors are learning more and more about Vitamin D Deficiency, they have begun checking people's Vitamin D Blood Levels.

Many of these researchers and doctors are shocked at what they have found. Dr. Elise Schroeder, a Naturopathic Doctor in Portland, Oregon has found that 100% of her clients are Vitamin D Deficient. In fact, her findings are no different than those of most researchers who are finding that deficiency, even in people who are 'healthy', is approximately 85% of the population!!

Turned around, this means that only 15% of the population does NOT have a severe Vitamin deficiency!

If you think that you aren't likely to be deficient, think again. Researchers found that even people living in Hawaii who got significant sunlight exposure were Vitamin D Deficient. And the vast majority of my clients are shocked to find out that they are deficient and can't understand how they got that way.

Nearly every day, people tell me, "But I eat healthy, take a multivitamin supplement and I go out in the sun, how did I get Vitamin D Deficient?"

But eating healthy has virtually NOTHING to do with it! You'd have to eat 6 to 10 ounces of fatty fish or 20 glasses of milk to meet your requirements. And supplements usually have a tiny 400 - 800 IU's of Vitamin D in them- not NEARLY enough to meet your daily requirements. And most people who are deficient and tell me that they go out in the sun everyday are living north of 37 degrees latitude. If you live this far North, you get ZERO Vitamin D from the sun from mid September to April- even if it is sunny and warm!!!

So, if you rely on diet and sunlight to get your Vitamin D, I can guarantee that you are deficient! Which puts you at higher risk for the 'Diseases of Civilization' that I mentioned above.

By Jared Hillman


Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common types of vitamin deficiency. This is a very special vitamin that we don't get from food, but instead, from sunlight. The rays of the sun trigger the process to produce vitamin D in our bodies. This deficiency most of the time gets unnoticed, but there are some vitamin D deficiency symptoms that are good to keep an eye on.

To understand the symptoms, it is good to know how vitamin D helps us: this vitamin is good to develop strong bones and muscles. A deficiency will affect both the muscles and the bones. When it is just starting out, it manifests in the form of aches and fatigue. Depending on the specific case and severity, these other symptoms may appear:

• Pain or tiredness in the muscles. This also translates as weakness; you'll feel more tired from doing activities such as climbing stairs.
• Bone pain problems. These tend to be more pronounced on the legs, back and hips.
• In children, this condition is more common. Children can develop curved legs if the condition is severe.
• Babies and children with severe vitamin D deficiency can experience cramps and respiratory problems. Parents need to be very alert of this condition.

Identifying the symptoms is very useful if you suspect you have a deficiency, however the best course of action you can take is prevention. The best way to prevent it is by walking a few minutes during the day. This way you'll keep your body generating vitamin D in healthy amounts.

If the condition appears to be more severe, doctors can recommend a series of treatments like the use of tablets or injections.

By Jeff Sharp


Hair loss is something that affects millions of women every year, so you're not alone in having this problem and looking for high quality information on how to prevent and restore your hair.

Being a woman suffering from hair loss can be extremely embarrassing and take a toll on your self-confidence. Losing your hair is a major problem in today's world, and it seems to bear its ugly head the first time when you're having your first child or when you're just getting older.

A vitamin deficiency is not the only reason for you losing your hair, stress and hormonal imbalances also play a big part in how healthy your hair is.

There are also some issues with hygiene products like shampoos and conditioners, which nowadays contain him and a lot of chemicals and other harmful substances. These products can cause hair loss if used for prolonged periods of time.

Sometimes hair loss can't really be prevented, but there are natural alternatives which can help you dramatically slow down the process of aging and increase your chances of keeping your hair for a long time.

Losing some hair every day is normal, but if you're reading this then you probably have noticed too much hair falling out and you're looking for a simple solution. The key is to look for a completely natural treatment or product that has been proven to work on women.

You might want to look into some new herbal treatments in the market today; these are completely natural and only contain natural nutrients and herbs.

Another way to boost your hair health is to live a healthy lifestyle and exercise, you might even want to supplement with high-quality multivitamin and pure omega-3 fish oil.

When you're looking to solve the problem of a vitamin deficiency, look for vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, zinc, biotin and vitamin B6. Other effective ingredients you might want to look into our horsetail silica and para-amino benzoic acid.

Vitamins are essential for the growth and development of the human body. Vitamins are found in natural foods. A good diet virtually ensures an abundant supply of vitamins. Vitamin A deficiency is a common disease in poorer parts of the world and causes night blindness. Vitamin A is found in fish, liver and green vegetables. Failure to consume sufficient quantities of meat, milk or milk products leads to a deficiency in Vitamin B12. This deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia and, if severe enough, can result in irreversible damage to the nerves, liver and intestinal tract. Vitamin C, found in green vegetables, berries and citrus fruits, helps prevent infection, enhances immunology and can help prevent cancer. A lack of Vitamin C can cause anemia, bleeding gums, muscle degeneration and blood clots. A deficiency in Vitamin D affects the bones, heart, kidneys and the thyroid gland. Vitamin D also enhances the immune system.

A deficiency may cause an enlargement of the prostate gland, gastrointestinal disease, impotency and decreased circulation. Vitamin E helps prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin K plays an important role in the formation of bones and blood clotting. A lack of Vitamin K leads to a low platelet count and poor blood clotting.
Folic acid is found in beans, beef, barley and chicken, amongst others. A deficiency of folic acid causes depression, anxiety and birth defects in pregnant women.
Vitamin deficiency can treated by recommending dietary regulations, oral supplements, or by injections. Oral supplements are useful for those unable to consume food rich in vitamins. Injections are useful for persons with diseases that prevent absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Vitamin A and Deficiency
Vitamin A is known as Retinol. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin. Your body requires an adequate amount of Vitamin A for healthy vision, bone growth, immune functions, and reproduction. In addition, Vitamin A promotes the development and maintenance of a healthy overall appearance. A person’s skin and hair appear healthier when the recommended intake of Vitamin A is met on a daily basis.

Do you know how to get enough Vitamin A? Some reliable food sources where Vitamin A can be found are: spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, tomatoes, broccoli, peas, bell peppers, turnips, peaches, cantaloupe, papaya, mango, oatmeal, milk, liver, and eggs. As you can see, Vitamin A is very friendly to the Vegetarian and Vegan diet.
Persons over the age of nineteen should watch their daily diets and Vitamin A intake. It’s suggested that males over the age of nineteen consume meals which from which they will obtain 900 micrograms of Vitamin A on a daily basis. Through research and surveys, statistics show that most North Americans do not suffer from Vitamin A deficiency. Excess alcohol depletes Vitamin A in your body.

Nevertheless, there are millions (if not billions) of people that suffer from Vitamin A deficiency on a global level. For instance, when you examine developing countries with malnourished citizens, Vitamin A deficiencies can be observed. Vitamin A is required for proper immune functions. Without a proper intake, a person’s body can not fight infections properly. Hence, many children die each year from infections throughout developing countries. Studies also link vitamin A deficient individuals with Pneumonia. When deficient, the cells that line the lungs lose their ability to remove disease causing microorganisms.

Unfortunately, Vitamin A deficiency can have life-altering or life-threatening effects. According to the World Health Organization: “An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 vitamin A-deficient children become blind every year, half of them dying within 12 months of losing their sight.” These tragic consequences require sustainable solutions.
Those who feel that they are lacking Vitamin A in their diets should talk to their family physician about a scheduled diet or Vitamin A supplements.