Low Vitamin D Levels May Contribute to Hypertension in African Americans
This is not at all surprising. I am certain that more diseases affect African Americans than Caucasians because of lower levels of vitamin D3. Consider; dark skinned folks ancestors all lived near the equator in tropical areas of the globe. Exposure to the sun was not only frequent, but the levels of sunlight were more intense. Dark skin color evolved to protect the body and also allowed for optimal production of vitamin D3. When the ancestors of Caucasians left Africa and moved away from the tropics, their skin eventually lost the dark color. This enabled more vitamin D3 production where the sun was less intense. Vitamin D3 deficiency can lead to a whole host of diseases.
Factors such as cardiovascular fitness, percent body fat, physical activity levels and social support were statistically controlled for in calculations. The researchers found that 61 percent of blacks and 11 percent of whites had vitamin D levels that …
Part of a paleo diet and way of living is getting outdoors to get as much exposure to the sun as necessary. In northern climates our paleo ancestors would have eaten fish that were rich in EFAs which include Vitamin D3. It is easy to find out if you are deficient. Visit www.vitamindcouncil.org to find out more about Vitamin D3, how to test for deficiency and what to do if you are deficient. This applies to everyone, black, white, or anywhere in between.
