Hey folks, I don’t know where you live, but here in the Midwestern US of A it is about to get a lot less sunny. And you know what that means? Yes, it is once again Vitamin D season.
Now, if you’ve read my blog posts over time you’ve seen me blog about Vegan D3 over the past couple of years. Back then, an innovative company in the U.K. came out with a lichen-extracted (and therefore animal-free and vegan) form of Vitamin D3 cholecalciferol. The Food Movement, Nordic Naturals, Country Life and others moved on this great opportunity and brought the product to market. Yet still many myths and misconceptions exist so we are going through them one by one today.
Next time you see a product made with D3 from sheep’s wool lanolin which claims to be 99% vegan (I’m not making this stuff up, folks) please write and tell the nice people how ill-informed they are. Nothing personal; but misinformation is the enemy. Call them out, give them my e-mail and we will set the record straight.
MYTH #1 – ALL VITAMIN D3 (CHOLECALCIFEROL) COMES FROM ANIMALS
In terms of dietary supplements this was true up until a couple of years ago. But research by legendary mycologist Paul Stamets indicates that organic mushrooms also contain active D3, not just D2. So, there are true ‘food’ sources of D3 out there. However, if you are facing Vitamin D deficiency (which many more people are than realize) you need a therapeutic dose of at least 1000 IU, perhaps 5000. So you need a dietary supplement. Many folks have seen dramatic results using the plant-based Vitashine (TM) form.
MYTH #2 – IT DOESN’T MATTER WHICH FORM, AS LONG AS YOU GET VITAMIN D
Evidence, meaning credible scientific research, suggests that not only does the body prefer D3 (cholecalciferol) to D2 (ergocalciferol), but supplementing with D2 may actually INHIBIT the body’s production of D3. Think on that one for a moment, manufacturers of products!
While many vegan products contain D2 (ergocalciferol), which is not an animal product, they may not be a viable source of absorbable Vitamin D.
The research on Vitamin D3 is truly staggering. Check out some of the studies on deficiency alone!
MYTH #3 – EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT GUARANTEES YOUR BODY WILL MAKE ENOUGH VITAMIN D
You know one thing that blocks vitamin D production? Sunscreen. Now, I’m not telling you whether or not to wear sunscreen – but I can also tell you anecdotally that I have talked to many folks who live in sunny areas, get out a fair amount, and have gone to the doctor ( a key factor here) and found their vitamin D levels were low.
You can get a great deal on Vegan D3 capsules here and also in a convenient liquid dropper form.
