Of course you're right about the sunlight and I'm going to make it a point to take a 20 minute walk every day. The reason I said I was rarely in it was because I typically work from home (just because I can) and in a dark theatre, mostly at night. I'm also an insomniac so I'm just not out much in the day. But I'll take some walks. That's easy enough. Meat? No. I'd rather just suffer if it comes to that. I've tried before and it doesn't work for me. We all have our priorities and our limits.
Rickets is a childhood disease. The adult term is osteomalacia. And as an aside, vitamin D isn't really what's helpful for your bones. It's calcium that is truly essential. Vitamin D just helps absorb calcium from your gut. So I would make sure that you're getting enough calcium as well in order to prevent bone and muscle issues.
I have heard that it is important to let your eyes be exposed to that daily dose of sunlight, i.e. no sunglasses for those few critical minutes.
Seriously, just go outside and stop being vegan, your health and body will thank you and you'll live longer.
I am Vitmain D deficient, and I live in Dubai. It's actually incredibly common in Dubai. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the case in Houston as well, though you guys must be somehwat better. I'm not sure if you live in Houston, but from what I've read here Houston is exactly like Dubai in that, at times, it's so hot and humid that people consciously/unconsciously insist on staying indoors and therefore neglect sunlight.
I work indoors all day. Low vitamin D levels would cause my eczema to flare up. I would take 2-3 Carlson's Solar Gems 4000 IU pills for a total of 8000-12000 IU. It's extracted from cod liver oil and is the natural Vitamin D(VITAMIN D3) The Eczema would disappear in a week. The pills are cheap at 10 cents a pop. I could only find them at Vitamin Shoppe. All the other stores in Houston didn't sell Vitamin D pills greater than 1000 IU. http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/...e=cs&source=FG&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=CL-1113 Be careful with other vitamin D supplements, which may have the cheaper D2 variety. You should google the differences, if you want mroe info. You should take Vitamin K to along with the Vitamin D supplements to ensure proper absorption into the bones, or you could end up with calcification in soft tissues and kidney stones.
I was tested for D levels at a routine physical because my doctor said she is finding more and more people with really low levels. Mine turned out fine but just wanted to let you know that for some reason a lot of people are walking around with low levels these days. She has seen enough that she feels it is best just to test everyone.
What were your calcium levels? On the lower side of normal? You likely have secondary hyperparathyroidism if you had bone fractures previously.
I would start taking 5 minute breaks outside while it's still not unbearably hot. I commute to Dallas and the weather here is still bearable for me to take 3 minute walks outside my building. I work in IT, and we're typically pasty white from living in our cubicles, so it's something I'm mindful about. If I'm intensely focused on several tasks, I write down what I've done or am thinking of doing (if you have Windows 7, there's a built in tool called stickynotes: Start button, search for sticky), then do my outdoor break. Being outdoors also reduce your stress levels (as long as you aren't glued to your phone), and being sedentary for hours isn't good for you in the long term anyways. If you still smoke, I wouldn't consider standing outside as part of your break. Might as well get the full benefits of the sun if you're going to suffer from the houston heat. I know summer is about to kick in, but if you work at home, a little sweat and stink isn't gonna raise any eyebrows. Find a path you like, enjoy it, then find a different path. It can be rewarding doing things while people are at work, and most of all, you give your brain a break from focusing and allow it to work on the problem on the side.
I think being outside/sun is also good mentally. You never know though batman you get those levels up and Everything may change and you and basso may start having the same political opinions.
I will have you know that I've answered 10 health related questions on Yahoo Answers! Sure, calcium is what's most important, but with a vegan diet, he'll have to factor the lack of calcium absorption into his daily requirements. I think popping a few Tums is the cheapest insurance-free calcium alternative in addition to a good diet. My mom takes Oscal, nothing wrong with that. I play doctor/quack on the web, but I'm expecting people to know it's within reason when they ask for advice on the web.
Very interesting and a very sound theory. I certainly do hate the weather here 9 months out of the year at least and I do avoid being outside because the humidity is unbearable. That said, I'm just home from a 30 minute walk with my lady and my dog (no sunglasses - thanks, giddyup). I'm exhausted from it as I've been exhausted from everything, but I know I need to do it so I will. Also, to Mathloom, are you being treated? I hope so. Wishing you well.
Oh, man. I am so glad you warned me of this. I had a kidney stone at 18 and it was extremely awful. I will ask my doc about adding K when we meet again in two weeks. Thank you.
I just looked over my test results and it doesn't look like they measured my calcium. The only other out of range result was my glucose which was a 102 when normal is 65-99. My triglycerides and cholesterol had been high six months ago but I started minding my diet and they are now normal. I had bone fractures previously but they were from being hit pretty hard by a taxi, so I don't think they indicated any pathology. I'm not prone to broken bones. And, again, my thyroid came back normal.
I don't still smoke (8 mo. now) but I do still suck on one of those alt nicotine delivery systems, so I am still addicted to nicotine. And I really can't concentrate at all without it, so I don't know I'll ever quit. I like to think I will. I have a nice porch swing in front of my house and a nice back yard so I think I will alternate 30 minute walks with reading outdoors in the sun until I regain some strength and am more comfortable taking long walks daily.
If my mental health improves my and basso's opinions will only diverge more sharply. But I do suffer from psychiatric disorders and am hoping this will help with that.
