Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is big health problem for many Muslims living in the UK. It affects both the body and the mind. InshaAllah these two articles will help in rectifying such problems:
Can You Tell If You Are Low in Vitamin D?
By Jane Agwaru
Vitamin D is one of the chemicals essential for the body's normal functioning. It is fat soluble and so some fat is required for its absorption in the gut. It is causing a stir at the moment
in the UK as more than half people tested have very low vitamin D levels-most having undetectable levels.
Importance vitamin D
Vitamin D is important for healthy skin nails and hair. Also for a healthy immune system and bones.Regarding bone development note that most bone is formed in childhood and by
the age of 16yrs of age.Very little is deposited after this so make sure your children always have their milk the most available primary source vitamin D and calcium.
Symptoms of low vitamin D
Dry skin, unhealthy brittle breaking and peeling nails, black/grey pigmentation nails,breaking hair. Fatigue (this is surprisingly the most common symptom I have seen in my adult
patients) and feeling depressed, bone and joint pains and aches. Bow legs in children (wrickets).
Causes of low vitamin D
Low intake of primary sources such as milk and oily fish.
-The most common cause of vitamin D deffciency is inadequate exposure to sunlight- no sunshine such as long winters in countries with this season,staying indoors,clothes covering
most of the body of the time,indoors lifestyle eg living in storied buildings and being 'stuck' at work all daylight hours.
-Chronic Kidney and liver disease preventing kidney and liver metabolism of vitamin D.
-Interferance of absorption by medicines such as epilepsy medicines.
-Pregnancy due to increased use by the growing baby.
-Children and teenagers growing and so using up a lot more vitamin D
What foods are rich in vitamin D?
-Diary and products such as milk,cheese and yogurt.
-Oily fish such as sardines, salmon, nile perch and many others that you know are oily.
-Fortified foods (ie foods that have commercially added vitamin D added to them)-eg margarine,
These are the primary sources of vitamin D. However this vitamin D has to be activated by the sun on our skins and also activated by the kidney in order for the bodies to be able to
use it.
This is the reason nearly half of the population of UK have Vitamin D deficiency. There has been been very little sunshine in the last two years.
How do you know if you have low vitamin D?
Suspect if you have the symptoms mentioned above.
Your doctor can do a simple blood test-most Gps(family Doctors) in the UK do this routinely and so can most modern laboratories.
Supplements for vitamin D
If you have mild vitamin D deficiency sensible exposure to sunlight and cod liver oil can be enough to bring your vitamin D levels up.You do not need to tan or burn in the sun just
short term exposure to sunlight of bare skin hands and face about 20 minutes at a time.Do not expose yourself to the hot sun and use sunscreen if you have fair skin.The sun light
you are exposed to on your way to and from work for example is just enough. Darker skinned people need a little longer as dark skin absorbs sunlight less. Darker skinned people are
therefore more prone to vitamin D deficiency.
When you have very low vitamin D you need some supplements of the activated Vitamin D3 to replace the shortfall of vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is the activated form which does not
require activation by sunlight on the skin.High strength 25microgram Vitamin D3 tablets are available from some chemists and these usually need to be take for at least 6 months to
bring levels up to normal if very low. For children you are advised to consult your doctor for supervised prescriptions to avoid toxicity due to overdosing.
Your doctor can also prescribe an injectable form of vitamin D
Toxicity
Do not take high doses of vitamin D for prolonged periods without knowing your status because you can become very ill due to toxicity vitamin D. You are safer taking smaller doses
such as 10 micrograms a day(400 units) if you do not know your vitamin D levels.
Jane is a Medical doctor practising as a GP in London UK. She also regularly posts articles on skincare at http://www.skinassistant.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Agwaru
A Guide to Vitamin D For Muslim Women
By Mubarakah Ibrahim
Vitamin D is the only one in the vast group of vitamins which isn't available in any food that we eat on a regular basis. Vitamin D is obtained by sunlight on the skin. With all of the
media coverage about the dangers of too much sun and sunburns, (which, as Muslim women we didn't have to worry about, right?) there was never much emphasis on just how
essential it is that the skin be exposed to sunlight in order for the body to receive the daily recommended amount.
So just what does this vitamin D do for us? Why is it so important? Well, vitamin D helps to control how much calcium your body absorbs from the foods you eat. Most of the calcium
gets directed towards teeth and bones to make them strong. However, our body also needs calcium to send messages to the nerves and muscles, such as the heart muscles, so it
functions properly. This is where the D vitamin steps up to the job of ensuring there is always enough calcium in the blood in order for these tasks to be performed.
Vitamin D has other jobs as well. It plays a large role in keeping the immune system functioning properly, and research is starting to show that it may be a contributing factor in the
reduction of cancer risks; particularly colon cancer.
So yes, vitamin D is very important. In reality, the amount of time that most people have to spend in the sun to receive a sufficient dose of the D vitamin is extremely small, and just a
few minutes a day will be sufficient and not have any adverse effects from the amount of ultra-violet light received.
There's only one problem. How are Muslim women wearing salwar kameez and hajib most, if not all of the time, supposed to get enough vitamin D to stay healthy? Even though for
most people it only takes a few minutes a day, we don't get enough sun on our faces alone to even reach that small amount.
Even though the majority of vitamin D is received by the body through exposure to sunlight, we do have other alternatives. Some people will choose to go to a tanning salon, since
they can have privacy in their booth, and no need to worry about anyone seeing them in any immodest way. If you choose this method, it's very important to supplement your diet with
antioxidants. Some recommended ones are astaxanthin and Berry Green, both which can be found at your local health food store.
Neglecting to do this could result in you suffering from tissue damage due to burning. However, if you boost your levels of antioxidants, your skin will be healthier and adapt to the
ultraviolet rays without burning.
Another option you may want to consider is taking vitamin D supplements. These can be purchased at your local pharmacy, and you don't need a prescription for them. If you're
unsure of the different types on the shelf, simply ask your pharmacist to come and help you choose the one which is best suited to your needs.
If neither of these two choices are a fit for you, the next best alternative for you to get enough vitamin D in your diet is to take a tablespoon of cod liver oil every day. It might not sound
like the most tasteful alternative, but amazingly enough cod liver oil is almost tasteless. You can even find mint or orange flavored cod liver oil at your local health food store. This
might make it a little easier for you. But remember, it's still oil, and might take some time to get used to the texture. It's definitely worth it in the long run however, as it boosts your
vitamin D levels as well as help to fight against some chronic diseases.
Finding sources of vitamin D can provide you with healthier bones, tissues and blood. You'll be giving yourself a fighting chance towards the prevention of cancer, depression and gum
disease. You'll find that any wounds you have will heal quicker, and your mood will be that much better too!
Mubarakah is the daughter of Shareef and Atiyah Ibrahim, two reverts to Islam. As a wife and mother of four children, she is the second generation of 4 generations of Muslims in her
family born and raised Muslim in America.
Mubarakah is a certified personal trainer and the owner of BALANCE fitness Studio for women in the city of New Haven, CT. She offers fitness education workshops and lectures,
personal training and group fitness classes for women. She is the founder of http://www.fitmuslimah.com the obline gym for Muslim Women and [http://www.FitMuslimahSummit.com]
The only health and fitness Summit exclusively for Muslim Women.
In addition, she lectures, promotes and conducts workshops on alternative health, fitness and healthy living throughout the United States. In her fitness career she has gained a
national reputation, through her fitness features on as a fitness expert for Prevention Magazine for for fitness for women over 40, featured in The New York Times for Muslim women
and exercise and appeared on the OPRAH Winfrey Show.
Mubarakah received her academic education at Albertus Magnus College (New Haven, CT), majoring in English and is currently continuing her education by perusing a degree in
Exercise Science at Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven, CT). In addition she is also a student of American Open University perusing her bachelors in Islamic Studies.
She is both a published freelance writer and poet.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mubarakah_Ibrahim
Dr. John Cannel (www.vitamindcouncil.org) on Vitamin D
g(18735540)a(2063006))
Vitamin D deficiency is big health problem for many Muslims living in the UK. It affects both the body and the mind. InshaAllah these two articles will help in rectifying such problems:
Can You Tell If You Are Low in Vitamin D?
By Jane Agwaru
Vitamin D is one of the chemicals essential for the body's normal functioning. It is fat soluble and so some fat is required for its absorption in the gut. It is causing a stir at the moment
in the UK as more than half people tested have very low vitamin D levels-most having undetectable levels.
Importance vitamin D
Vitamin D is important for healthy skin nails and hair. Also for a healthy immune system and bones.Regarding bone development note that most bone is formed in childhood and by
the age of 16yrs of age.Very little is deposited after this so make sure your children always have their milk the most available primary source vitamin D and calcium.
Symptoms of low vitamin D
Dry skin, unhealthy brittle breaking and peeling nails, black/grey pigmentation nails,breaking hair. Fatigue (this is surprisingly the most common symptom I have seen in my adult
patients) and feeling depressed, bone and joint pains and aches. Bow legs in children (wrickets).
Causes of low vitamin D
Low intake of primary sources such as milk and oily fish.
-The most common cause of vitamin D deffciency is inadequate exposure to sunlight- no sunshine such as long winters in countries with this season,staying indoors,clothes covering
most of the body of the time,indoors lifestyle eg living in storied buildings and being 'stuck' at work all daylight hours.
-Chronic Kidney and liver disease preventing kidney and liver metabolism of vitamin D.
-Interferance of absorption by medicines such as epilepsy medicines.
-Pregnancy due to increased use by the growing baby.
-Children and teenagers growing and so using up a lot more vitamin D
What foods are rich in vitamin D?
-Diary and products such as milk,cheese and yogurt.
-Oily fish such as sardines, salmon, nile perch and many others that you know are oily.
-Fortified foods (ie foods that have commercially added vitamin D added to them)-eg margarine,
These are the primary sources of vitamin D. However this vitamin D has to be activated by the sun on our skins and also activated by the kidney in order for the bodies to be able to
use it.
This is the reason nearly half of the population of UK have Vitamin D deficiency. There has been been very little sunshine in the last two years.
How do you know if you have low vitamin D?
Suspect if you have the symptoms mentioned above.
Your doctor can do a simple blood test-most Gps(family Doctors) in the UK do this routinely and so can most modern laboratories.
Supplements for vitamin D
If you have mild vitamin D deficiency sensible exposure to sunlight and cod liver oil can be enough to bring your vitamin D levels up.You do not need to tan or burn in the sun just
short term exposure to sunlight of bare skin hands and face about 20 minutes at a time.Do not expose yourself to the hot sun and use sunscreen if you have fair skin.The sun light
you are exposed to on your way to and from work for example is just enough. Darker skinned people need a little longer as dark skin absorbs sunlight less. Darker skinned people are
therefore more prone to vitamin D deficiency.
When you have very low vitamin D you need some supplements of the activated Vitamin D3 to replace the shortfall of vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is the activated form which does not
require activation by sunlight on the skin.High strength 25microgram Vitamin D3 tablets are available from some chemists and these usually need to be take for at least 6 months to
bring levels up to normal if very low. For children you are advised to consult your doctor for supervised prescriptions to avoid toxicity due to overdosing.
Your doctor can also prescribe an injectable form of vitamin D
Toxicity
Do not take high doses of vitamin D for prolonged periods without knowing your status because you can become very ill due to toxicity vitamin D. You are safer taking smaller doses
such as 10 micrograms a day(400 units) if you do not know your vitamin D levels.
Jane is a Medical doctor practising as a GP in London UK. She also regularly posts articles on skincare at http://www.skinassistant.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Agwaru
A Guide to Vitamin D For Muslim Women
By Mubarakah Ibrahim
Vitamin D is the only one in the vast group of vitamins which isn't available in any food that we eat on a regular basis. Vitamin D is obtained by sunlight on the skin. With all of the
media coverage about the dangers of too much sun and sunburns, (which, as Muslim women we didn't have to worry about, right?) there was never much emphasis on just how
essential it is that the skin be exposed to sunlight in order for the body to receive the daily recommended amount.
So just what does this vitamin D do for us? Why is it so important? Well, vitamin D helps to control how much calcium your body absorbs from the foods you eat. Most of the calcium
gets directed towards teeth and bones to make them strong. However, our body also needs calcium to send messages to the nerves and muscles, such as the heart muscles, so it
functions properly. This is where the D vitamin steps up to the job of ensuring there is always enough calcium in the blood in order for these tasks to be performed.
Vitamin D has other jobs as well. It plays a large role in keeping the immune system functioning properly, and research is starting to show that it may be a contributing factor in the
reduction of cancer risks; particularly colon cancer.
So yes, vitamin D is very important. In reality, the amount of time that most people have to spend in the sun to receive a sufficient dose of the D vitamin is extremely small, and just a
few minutes a day will be sufficient and not have any adverse effects from the amount of ultra-violet light received.
There's only one problem. How are Muslim women wearing salwar kameez and hajib most, if not all of the time, supposed to get enough vitamin D to stay healthy? Even though for
most people it only takes a few minutes a day, we don't get enough sun on our faces alone to even reach that small amount.
Even though the majority of vitamin D is received by the body through exposure to sunlight, we do have other alternatives. Some people will choose to go to a tanning salon, since
they can have privacy in their booth, and no need to worry about anyone seeing them in any immodest way. If you choose this method, it's very important to supplement your diet with
antioxidants. Some recommended ones are astaxanthin and Berry Green, both which can be found at your local health food store.
Neglecting to do this could result in you suffering from tissue damage due to burning. However, if you boost your levels of antioxidants, your skin will be healthier and adapt to the
ultraviolet rays without burning.
Another option you may want to consider is taking vitamin D supplements. These can be purchased at your local pharmacy, and you don't need a prescription for them. If you're
unsure of the different types on the shelf, simply ask your pharmacist to come and help you choose the one which is best suited to your needs.
If neither of these two choices are a fit for you, the next best alternative for you to get enough vitamin D in your diet is to take a tablespoon of cod liver oil every day. It might not sound
like the most tasteful alternative, but amazingly enough cod liver oil is almost tasteless. You can even find mint or orange flavored cod liver oil at your local health food store. This
might make it a little easier for you. But remember, it's still oil, and might take some time to get used to the texture. It's definitely worth it in the long run however, as it boosts your
vitamin D levels as well as help to fight against some chronic diseases.
Finding sources of vitamin D can provide you with healthier bones, tissues and blood. You'll be giving yourself a fighting chance towards the prevention of cancer, depression and gum
disease. You'll find that any wounds you have will heal quicker, and your mood will be that much better too!
Mubarakah is the daughter of Shareef and Atiyah Ibrahim, two reverts to Islam. As a wife and mother of four children, she is the second generation of 4 generations of Muslims in her
family born and raised Muslim in America.
Mubarakah is a certified personal trainer and the owner of BALANCE fitness Studio for women in the city of New Haven, CT. She offers fitness education workshops and lectures,
personal training and group fitness classes for women. She is the founder of http://www.fitmuslimah.com the obline gym for Muslim Women and [http://www.FitMuslimahSummit.com]
The only health and fitness Summit exclusively for Muslim Women.
In addition, she lectures, promotes and conducts workshops on alternative health, fitness and healthy living throughout the United States. In her fitness career she has gained a
national reputation, through her fitness features on as a fitness expert for Prevention Magazine for for fitness for women over 40, featured in The New York Times for Muslim women
and exercise and appeared on the OPRAH Winfrey Show.
Mubarakah received her academic education at Albertus Magnus College (New Haven, CT), majoring in English and is currently continuing her education by perusing a degree in
Exercise Science at Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven, CT). In addition she is also a student of American Open University perusing her bachelors in Islamic Studies.
She is both a published freelance writer and poet.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mubarakah_Ibrahim