With the help of vitamin D your kidneys are able to create a hormone called rennin. This useful hormone is an important helper when it comes to regulating blood pressure. In the liver it helps to produce a substance called calcidiol, which in turn creates calcitriol. This substance helps to control your metabolism’s calcium levels. This is a very imperative function as the effects of this transformation stem as far as lowering your risk of certain diseases and managing things like your insulin levels and autoimmune system. In fact low levels of vitamin D have been linked to many conditions including SAD, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, hypoparathyroidism, colon cancer, MS, and even diabetes, so it should come as no surprise that it can also be a contributing actor behind high blood pressure.

For over fifty years scientists and physicians have been aware of the reality that exposure to ultraviolet light (which can be obtained from sunlight or through manmade lights) can lower blood pressure in people who have “average” blood pressure levels, and significantly lower levels in those with high blood pressure.

Does this mean that if you have high blood pressure you should spend hours a day completely exposed to the sun? No, but more and more researchers are finding that even small doses of sunlight (which can be taken in while wearing sunscreen) are good for you. It has even been put forth that sunlight through your eyes can help with vitamin D problems too. In this modern world of continual “indoor-ism” and hectic schedules it can be hard to find time or ways to get enough vitamin D. Supplements are one answer, artificial ultraviolet light another (this route is often used to treat SAD), and natural sunlight in reasonable amounts in another. But with all the potential good that a little sunlight now and than can do for you one can’t help but wonder if it’s time to take a walk on the sunny side of the street. Who knows, your blood pressure may thank you for it.

Pages: 1 2