
Today I’m here with Jim Stephenson, an expert in the field of vitamin D research. This episode is one that I’ve really looked forward to recording and I learned so much from my talk with Jim! I will say what he has to say is a little more on the controversial side. It may call some of your beliefs on vitamin D into question.
We take a really deep dive into vitamin D, the best ways to get it, and how much we really need. Jim also covers why getting vitamin D from the sun is different than the supplement form. And why from his research why most of us don’t need to supplement with vitamin D (even in the winter). It may be doing more harm than good.
We discuss how personal health, viruses (including the most popular one in recent years), and other factors play a role in how we absorb and use vitamin D. There’s so much we go into in today’s episode, and I really hope you’ll join us as we talk about all things vitamin D!
Episode Highlights With Jim
- Is Vitamin D harmful?
- Most of the work done on Vitamin D is associative data
- The difference between D3 (intermediate molecule) vs storage form vs active form
- Different forms of Vitamin D we can test for and why these aren’t always accurate
- Is there actually accurate testing for Vitamin D?
- How to actually test the active form of Vitamin D in the body
- Why he doesn’t recommend taking an isolated pill of vitamin D
- The reason he says you don’t actually need vitamin K to absorb Vitamin D
- Genetic components of Vitamin D receptors and use
- Many genetic mutations are meant to be an advantage
- Why you aren’t going to get over 60 on a vitamin D test naturally
- One snip that is important for vitamin D
- Misconceptions about Vitamin D during pregnancy
- The difference between getting Vitamin D as a supplement vs making it from sun exposure
- We make a sulfated form of D3 from sun exposure
- 7-Dehydrocholesterol from the sun (not present in supplements)
- Why the most important molecule from sun exposure can’t be obtained from a supplement
- How PUFA molecules interact with the sun equation and his take on PUFAS
- How viruses like Epstein-Barr can interfere with the vitamin D process in the body
- What to do if you’ve taken a lot of oral Vitamin D and think it might have caused an issue
- How vitamin K can actually be helpful and why magnesium is important too
- Can sun exposure actually help avoid cancer?
- The problems with sunscreen
- What to know for healthy sun exposure and what it means when we look pink for a few minutes after sun exposure
- The importance of not wearing sunglasses in the sun because it makes you more likely to burn
Resources We Mention
- Jim Stephenson – Facebook Group
- Jim Stephenson – Substack
- AIDS: The crime Beyond Belief by William L. C. Scott
- Benefits of Sunlight: A Bright Spot for Human Health
- Absence of Seasonal Variation in Serum Concentrations of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Despite a Rise in 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Summer
- UVB Light Prevents Atherosclerosis By Reducing Inflammation
- The “D” Vitamins by Jack DeRuiter
- A human skin equivalent model that mimics the photoproduction of vitamin D3 in human skin
- Epstein-Barr virus encoded EBNA-3 binds to vitamin D receptor and blocks activation of its target genes
More From Wellness Mama
- 373: Why Sunlight Is As Important As Nutrition and Exercise for Health & Lifespan With Ari Whitten
- 621: The One About Morning Sunlight – Short Episode
- Surprising Benefits of Sunbathing and Tanning
- The Benefits of Sunlight for Sleep and Hormones
- Sunscreen Safety: SPF, UVA, UVB, Oxybenzone & Vitamin D
- Why I Eat My Sunscreen to Protect Skin From the Inside Out
- Benefits of Safe Sun Exposure for Reduced Cancer Risk (& Vitamin D)
- Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?
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