Vit D mention 2000 genes March 2010
To Your Health – The Benefits of Vitamin D
March 4, 2010 
By Lici http://www.brendacarescorner.com/2010/03/to-your-health-the-benefits-of-vitamin-d/ 
Vitamin D has been shown to influence over 2,000 of the 30,000 genes in our body. It is for this reason that vitamin D influences more than just our bone health. It also has a protective affect against cancer by decreasing the spread and reproduction of cancer cells as well as increasing the death of mutated cells. It can even fight colds and the flu by influencing our immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, vitamin D has been shown to influence other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis (Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis), infertility and PMS, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and age related mental decline.
Our vitamin D levels have a dramatic effect on our entire body. What is really frightening is that it is thought that over 95 percent of our senior citizens and 85 percent of the American population are deficient, including our children. Being out in the sun for 30 minutes a day allows our body to produce about 20,000 IUs of vitamin D. That is an equivalent of about 50 typical multivitamins or 200 glasses of milk!  However, during the winter months, we are stuck indoors more often. Getting that 30 minutes a day of sun is near impossible. To optimize our levels we have two other alternatives. The first alternative is to utilize a safe tanning bed where the harmful emissions are shielded.  The second is to take a high-quality supplement. Although our body has a way of insuring we do not overdose on vitamin D when we are exposed to the sun or the tanning bed, it cannot guard itself against an overdose of this vitamin when we supplement.
To prevent an overdose or to check for deficiencies, we must test our vitamin D levels regularly. We need to work with our doctors to reach optimal levels. It is important to keep in mind if you decide to take oral supplementation that vitamin D3 is a human vitamin D where vitamin D2 is inferior and a synthetic version. You can purchase vitamin D3 at your local health food store, but I would first check my levels.
I find it strange that given the fact that optimal vitamin D levels could prevent diseases, it is not checked by mainstream doctors more regularly. Let’s take our health in our own hands and request our levels be checked. It is my hope that by educating ourselves about what our body needs we can live long and disease free lives.
Here’s to our health!