Most of us have grown up with an unclear understanding that “getting our vitamins” is important, but reasoning is not always clear. A new study is immersed in the specific health benefits of a particular vitamin – vitamin D – and its discoveries show that getting enough of it can be the key to life longer and older.
Get to know the experts: Joseph Merla, Do, Certified by Board Family Doctor and Author of YOur cellular health guide; And Amy Davis, Rd, LDN, live consultant.
The test followed over 1000 healthy American women over 55 and men over 50 over 50 for a period of four years and found that, compared to placebo, taking 2000 International Units (IU) of Vitamin D3 Dail Telomers are “protective caps of your chromosomes that naturally wear out of age,” explains Joseph Merkola, DO, DO YOur guide to cellular healthAnd they protect DNA during cell division, a process that the body uses to repair and grow. Every time they happen, they get a little shorter, making them a marker for organic age. “When the telomeres become too short, your cells cannot be separated properly and start functioning or die,” adds Dr. Merkola. “When they shrink too quickly, your risk of things like heart disease, cancer and symptoms of premature aging increases.”
At the beginning of the study, the participants had a variety of vitamin D levels, and those who took Vitamin D3 had more telometer protection than those who were not after four years. “This is a measurable delay in cell aging,” says Dr. Merkola. Another group in the study took the Omega-3 supplements and did not experience the same results.
Wondering if you get enough vitamin D? The National Institute of Health recommends that adults do not receive more than 2000 IU vitamin D per day.
While the study is promising and there are others like him, there were several restrictions, including the pool of participants deprived of the widely demographic and healthy diversity, which potentially limits the power of discoveries, explains Amy Davis, RD, LDN, live consultant. However, both of our experts believe that in the way of examination, this one was quite a solid randomized clinical trial. “Although more studies would help clarify the full picture, it adds a real authenticity to the role of vitamin D3 to slow down the decline associated with age,” concludes Dr. Merkola.
How Vitamin D can slow down aging
Vitamin D is known as a “solar vitamin” that can enhance the mental and bone health. More research is needed to determine how exactly the telomere shortening slows down, but it is probably related to its anti-inflammatory effects, protection of immunity and its role in cellular function, especially within the mitochondria, explains Dr. Merkola. “Your mitochondria are the energy factories of your cells and keeping them healthy helps to maintain your metabolic strength, your resistance and even your brain function,” he says. “Vitamin D also supports the production of glutathione, your body’s main antioxidant. This means less oxidative stress, less damaged proteins and membranes and more slow wear on your cells.” Studies show that oxidative stress can play a role for everything from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis.
Other ways of aging healthy
Of course, as with any supplement, you should talk to your doctor before going to all-in vitamin D supplements and make sure you practice other healthy habits, such as eating a Mediterranean-style diet, exercising regularly, falling asleep and maintaining active social life.
Your body gets vitamin D by sun exposure, which you naturally absorb safely in small steps, says Dr. Merkola. (Still, don’t miss the sunscreen!) “Your body is built to adjust how much vitamin D it makes from sunlight,” he adds. “If you complement, test your levels first.” Your doctor can paint blood and determine if you have a deficiency and whether supplements are required.
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