Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I take a daily vitamin that clams to have 400 IU of vitamin d which is the "recommended" daily allowance. However I have a question about taking more. I know sunlight is the best way for us paleo to get our vitamin D. However I live in a place where from about the end of April till the middle of September you have to be nuts to spend any time in the sun(sorry it is just way too hot). So now that I am going to be avoiding the big ball of fire in the sky for a while, should I take more vitamin D than in my multivitamin?

flag	asked Apr 9 2012 at 21:59 Ender 429●2●10

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Force yourself into the light! – foreveryoung Apr 10 2012 at 0:09

"I'm afraid of the light, Mommy. I'm afraid of the light." "Stay away from the light. The light is dangerous. Don't go near it. Don't even look at the light." - Name that movie – Dave S. Apr 10 2012 at 17:22

You have to test in order to know how much to take - and then you have to test some again to see what effect it had on you. There is no way anyone can tell you, without labs, how much you should or shouldn't take. – Dave S. Apr 10 2012 at 17:25

April S. · Answer 1 · 2012-04-10 00:05:54Z UTC

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I suffer(ed) from acne for several years and wasn't strict about supplementing with D3 because I thought I got plenty of sunshine most days, living in LA. When I did take D3, it was maybe about 4000 IU/day. I recently upped it to 8800 IU/day and have the clearest and softest skin I have ever had in my life. The Quilt recommends 5000 IU/day for most people.

answered Apr 10 2012 at 0:05

April S.♦
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really? I see zero difference from D3 but get supersoft skin from sugar, oysters and liver... – Korion Apr 10 2012 at 5:23

Same for me. Vitamin D3 helps a lot. – Celine Apr 10 2012 at 8:26

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I follow mostly Peat dietary recommendations which helped my skin a lot, but I noticed a fairly sudden further improvement about a week after upping my D3 dosage from 3000 IU/day to 10,000 IU/day. I live in Vancouver, BC so I haven't been getting a lot of sun over the winter so it leads me to think that perhaps the additional D3 is allowing me to better utilize the higher Vit A intake from the Peat stuff, thus better skin. – PrimalCG Apr 10 2012 at 10:13

none · Answer 2 · 2012-04-10 00:38:17Z UTC

Fat soluble vitamins D along with A and K2 should be taken together. They work in synergy. K2 is gotten from natto (mk-7) or from grassfed dairy and free range egg yolks (mk-4). The yellower the fat the more K2 you are getting. Modern agriculture has pretty much moved indoors, so you are prolly not getting what you need. Furthermore, modern humans have pretty moved indoors too, so you are prolly not getting the D you need either. Also, if you are eating liver kudos to you, but modern tastes have pretty much taken this superfood from the menu.

Instead of focusing on D alone, consider reading this and supplementing your diet with an appropriate ratio of A/D/andK2. (Please note that K1 from plants is NOT the same as K2 and disregard anyone who tells you to eat your greens for k2. Let animals process your greens for you and they will make the GOLD = k2).

Dragonfly · Answer 3 · 2012-04-09 23:40:24Z UTC

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Best to get tested.

There's a link on the Vitamin D Council site for a home test kit for $70 (incl shipping.)

You want to aim for blood level of 50-60 ng/ml.

answered Apr 9 2012 at 23:40

Dragonfly
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Adam · Answer 4 · 2012-04-09 23:18:37Z UTC

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My wife and I take 5000iu's of quality D3 daily.

http://www.naturalnews.com/vitamin_d.html

answered Apr 9 2012 at 23:18

Adam
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	holy cow that is a lot! – Ender Apr 9 2012 at 23:25
	It could be a lot if you're in optimal range,50/70.If not it is recommended to optimize it with 5000 to 8000 a day – desi Apr 10 2012 at 4:57
	Yes, it could be too much or too little. Get tested. You wouldn't start chemotherapy without a diagnosis of cancer, would you? – Dave S. Apr 10 2012 at 17:27

Eugenia · Answer 5 · 2012-04-09 23:29:44Z UTC

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Some say that we should take 1000 IU per 25 lbs of body weight. Dunno if that's generally accepted or not. I personally take 5000 IU daily, in the mornings.

answered Apr 9 2012 at 23:29

Eugenia
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HereticChick · Answer 6 · 2012-04-10 13:48:51Z UTC

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I've been taking 10,000 iu daily and occasionally 20,000. I've noticed that even my eyesight is getting better. I no longer need my reading glasses! My daughter has noticed that her menstrual cramps are a lot less as well.

answered Apr 10 2012 at 13:48

HereticChick
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jstand · Answer 7 · 2012-04-10 00:02:25Z UTC

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I take 20,000 IU 3 times a week. a little less if the weather is sunny.

answered Apr 10 2012 at 0:02

jstand
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desi · Answer 8 · 2012-04-10 05:01:52Z UTC

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Even in hot weather you could gradually build up a tan.Start with 10 min a day and don't use soap to bathe afterwards,just water.Also taking coconut oil taken internally and asthaxantin help to avoid burning.

answered Apr 10 2012 at 5:01

desi
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how much vitamin d should I be taking?

8 Answers