Fertility and the role of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a hormone and one that’s essential in the creation of your amazing sex hormones.  The role of vitamin D is surprisingly diverse; in fact Vitamin D acts more like a hormone than a Vitamin D!  Whether your a man or a woman, Vitamin D can boost your fertility in these cool ways:

• VitaminD helps create high levels of testosterone and oestrogen, which increase libido, and fertiliity
• By keeping these hormones buoyant, it protects against crashing moods including depression and anxiety. I
• By maintaining oestrogen levels, it helps bump up your neurotransmitters serotonin (your happy hormone) and GABA (your chilled-out, sultry hormone).

Vitamin D is also good mates with the genes MAO, COMT and VDR Taq, these are the genes that deal with the creation, release and clearance of serotonin and dopamine. When this system is working well, you’re brighter, more motivated and much more playful.... meaning you're more in the mood for babymaking acitivities

How Much Do We Need?

In Australia, Vitamin D serum levels should be >50-75 nmol/L (minimum), with optimal ranges between 100-140 nmol/L.

How Do I Get More?  I want that Vitamin D boost!!

Diet: Dietary sources include grass-fed butter, wild salmon and oily fish, cod liver oil, egg yolks, mushrooms and organic liver.

Sun Exposure: We can only create Vitamin D from the sun via UVB rays, and they only come out to play between around 11am and 4pm, when the sun is at an angle of >35 deg. So get your limbs/torso/as much exposed skin as possible out in nature for between 7-30 minutes (fair skin) and 20 minutes-3 hours (dark skin)* each day during this time.

***TIP: An app like DMinder can help you monitor your UVA/UVB sun exposure to ensure maximum benefit and minimum burn.

Genetics: Problems in the genes responsible for Vitamin D manufacturing and skin pigment itself affects your ability to create Vitamin D, with pale skin 6 times more able to generate Vitamin D than darker skin.

Age: Vitamin D decreases with age.

Body Weight: Increased fat stores bind Vitamin D making it less bioavailable.

Supplementation: If you need a boost, supplements such as Cod Liver Oil or a Vitamin D spray or capsule at between 1,000-3,000IU per day can boost levels.

So don’t forget about this juicy little hormone, especially as we come out of Winter … and make whey-hey while the sun shines.

*Seasonal guidelines from Osteoporosis Australia

If fertility is a problem it may be time for a consultation

call me on 0414287083

http://www.lukemcphersonacupuncture.com.au/contact