Vitamin D: Is This the Miracle Vitamin?

A really great read.
This book, as is expected of this author, very well written, researched and the evidence is presented in a manner understandable by professionals and laymen alike.If you are at all concerned about your health and the wellbeing of your loved ones, you will read this book and take onboard the implied remedies of natural sunshine and maybe also vitamin D3 supplements.

Information for all
I like that all the information in this book appears to be backed by credible research. I came away with a clear knowledge of what I should do to ensure I have sufficient stores of Vitamin D and how to best go about getting it easily.Anyone intersted in staying as healthy as they can would find this of interest.

This is a great read if you want to know a bit about Vitamin D
A must read for anyone interested in your daily health. I just had my first winter completely free of cold & flue, not even a sniffle,I would read the book and then make up your own mind on the importance of Vitamin D

Very informative
This book will open your eyes to the misleading information Kiwis have been taught about ‘slip, slop, slap’. Thanks to Ian Wishart for teaching me the benefits of Vitamin D and the truth about sunblock.

My first degree was in Human Biology, and now as an Associate Professor I teach courses on evidence and research methodology. Therefore, I was at first both attracted and sceptical about this book. The title put me off. I would have preferred: Vitamin D: reassessing the evidence.I came to the book familiar with Wishart’s science books. I knew he would be readable, courteous, firm, and well referenced. Wishart is well acquainted both with the science and the politics of medicine. He presents the science so that non-technical people can see the point, and technical people can have precision and detail. Wishart is NOT jumping on a bandwagon: he has been researching and writing about the importance of Vitamin D for over seven years. His basic approach, as always, is to follow the evidence wherever it leads, even if the conclusions are contentious and uncomfortable.The first chapter introduces his argument. Chapters 2-12 cover the role of Vitamin D in (2) Alzheimer’s, (3) Autism, (4) Asthma and Allergies, (5) Breast Cancer, (6)Colon and Prostate Cancer, (7) Heart disease, (8) Flu and colds, (9)Pregnancy and childhood, (10)Mental Illness, (11) Multiple Sclerosis (12) Chrohn’s Disease and Type 1 Diabetes. His basic thesis is that Vitamin D is needed, in large quantities. It is vitally important in a wide range of biological systems and diseases. For instance, Wishart presents loads of evidence in chapter 2 that high blood levels of Vit D are strongly associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s. The natural level of Vitamin D in people who work outside is 50ng/ml(125nmol/L) This should be the pre-winter target.So, what is the problem? Surely a balanced diet provides all we need?Wishart shows that diet is not sufficient. The main source of Vitamin D is through the influence of sunlight on skin. Everyone is agreed that sunburn is to be avoided, so the exposure needs to be limited and frequent. Dietary supplements are possible, but they work best for those who already have reasonably high body reserves. Wishart is careful to warn that large supplements can be dangerous, unless taken intravenously.So the problem is that we have a generation educated to believe that skin cancer must be avoided by regular use of sunscreen, which blocks the sun and as a consequence prevents the production of Vitamin D. Chapters 13&14 cover this. He explains that sunscreens do help to protect against the less dangerous “squamous cell carcinoma” but provide no protection at all for the dangerous kind: “basal cell carcinoma”. In addition, those with the most exposure to sun are more likely to survive the dangerous cancer, and are less likely to get it!I wish Wishart had gone into more detail on what to do. I immediately stopped using suncream, but will continue to wear a hat and sunglasses. Sunlight is afterall associated with glaucoma and cataracts is it not? I live in Tunisia and walk to work. Before I started using sunscreen two years ago I had become skilled in avoiding prolonged exposure to sun, while tolerating a little reddening.Both sides of the debate agree that burning is bad. Suitable clothing is the best way to avoid that, in unavoidable circumstances such as driving. But how can I avoid burning and blistering on my face? Is there a case for limited sunscreen use? I would also have liked a systematic evaluation of ALL the major components of sunscreens – not just Vitamin E, Titanium derivatives, Nanotechnology, and Oxybenzone. I hope that in the second edition he will answer these questions.Buy this book. Send your doctor a Kindle copy, and catch as much Autumn sunlight as you can. If Wishart is wrong, then he will have only saved you some money. If he is right, then high levels of naturally produced Vitamin D will reduce cancers and boost the immune system.

Very well written, extremely informative in detail about vitamin D and its main source the sun. Balanced points around UV rays and exposure to them against using sunscreen and does sunscreen help anyway. Insights into Vitamin D4 role in prevention of many cancers, mental health and other illnesses. Couldn’t put the book down. A book everyone must read so they can make up their own minds about increasing their Vitamin D intake.