You probably already know whether or not you have high cholesterol. Unfortunately, and this is more important than high cholesterol in my opinion, only the most progressive and proactive patients know if they have Vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin (it's actually a hormone), is produced by the interaction of sunlight and your skin.  Most known for its requirement in childhood bone health, Vitamin D’s importance in reducing the risk of adult bone disease (osteoporosis), breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, autoimmune and infectious diseases, and more, has been illuminated over the past 20 years.

How would you know if you are getting enough sun exposure?  How would you know if you seriously shouldn’t put on that sunscreen?  Well, you could make a guess, but you wouldn’t know for sure.  And, although statistically you probably do actually have Vitamin D deficiency (sunlight deficiency) and do need more sunscreen-free sun exposure, most people fail to believe this until they see their own deficient Vitamin D level in black and white.  Yours truly included!

The good thing is that you don’t need an integrative medicine doctor to find out your Vitamin D level.  Just call your doctor’s office and ask for a prescription to get your Vitamin D level drawn. Make sure the storage form of Vitamin D is ordered:  25-OH Vitamin D or Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy.  Alternatively, you may order your blood tests online.  I recommend ordering from Private MD Labs.  They securely email you your prescription and you go to your local LabCorp for the blood draw. Within three days, you’ll receive your Vitamin D level in your inbox. No hassle.  If you use my coupon code, SMMD15, you’ll receive 15% off.

Have a sunny day.

- Dr. Shira Miller

P.S.  Many people believe they are safe because they are taking a Vitamin D supplement.  Please know that most multiple vitamin supplements don’t contain nearly enough Vitamin D to prevent Vitamin D deficiency in adults.  Also, most doctors fail to prescribe enough Vitamin D for their patients’ Vitamin D levels to improve to optimal ranges, so don’t only rely on your doctor to accurately interpret your results or determine the appropriate treatment.  In an upcoming newsletter I will discuss how to achieve an optimal Vitamin D level.