Half of Black Teens May Be Vitamin D Deficient

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well im seriously cautious about these STUDIES FROM OFFICIALS in the medical field esp when it comes to health issues relating to blacks and other minorities of color b/c i feel as a young black male myself it tends to be really biased...esp when i hear over and over again from propaganda from the MEDIA AND DOCTRINATED OFFICIALS like AFRICAN AMERICAN ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CANCER, DIABETES, AIDS/HIV...well hello the EXTREMIST MAINSTREAM SOCIETY is trying to cull down the population of blacks and minorities worldwide and MEDICAL ISSUES are the quickest and damn right DIRTIEST plan to do that....so I just ignore the MEDICAL OFFICIALS when i hear this quackery....

rod of NC 1:35AM January 30, 2011

I agree with you Bee Ezzy. Unfortunately many blacks and hispanics as well, avoid the sun for fear of getting darker because of the stigma of being too dark. I am a black and married to a puerto rican and believe me when I tell you not only black people but other people of color avoid the sun for this very reason. In Puerto Rico you do not see the natives on the beach. You see the tourist on the beach. I have friends of all nationalities and this applies to them as well. As for myself, I have always loved the sun and look forward to getting tanned every summer and I'm my most happiest in the summer months. I do believe it has to do with my body absorbing more of the vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D is the happy vitamin. One of the many diseases as you mentioned of vitamin D deficiency is depression. No wonder black people have been referred to as the "Depressed Race". Cod Liver oil is high in vitamin D and at one time was given to black children everyday from what I was told by my elders and it wouldnt be a bad idea going back to this old fashioned remedy again. You have to admit, there certainly is a big difference in societies youth from yesterday to today and not only in terms of health.

honeycoated of NY 4:04PM July 11, 2009

Could it possibly be a bacteria in the blood that is robbing the body of it;s vit D. And the socall blood test that are done are not picking up.causing everything you all are descriping very true causing unbalance uncontrolabe eating etc

rodney boone of CA 10:35AM March 07, 2009

It is only possible to get about 400-600IU from your diet and you need several thousand units to have optimal levels. So sunshine or supplements are the only options. Everyone should know that the Canadian Cancer Society now recommends everyone take daily vitmain D to prevent cancer. take a look at www.vitaminD3world.com There are some good summaries of the data that let to this recommendation

Mike Barnes of MA 11:31AM March 05, 2009

How does this compare to the black teens living in the United States Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. Is this study making comparison with black teen living in sunnier parts of the united states like Florida and Arizona? Is it because of a lifestyle of staying indoors more than ever even in the summer time? Most entertainments are done indoors, such as movie theaters, watching TV, video games, surfing the internet causing less exposure to the sun, these activities along with poor eating habits also leads to obesity. Obesity as you know cause heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. I think what needs to be focused on more is how to include vitamin D to our teens diet and more activities that occur outdoors.
There are also some issues of some black folks who don't like to be outdoors to get any darker, bombarded by images that doesn't reflect dark skin people in a positive light in our media. This is a self esteem issues that leads to vitamin D deficiency and a host of other health problems.

Bee Ezzy of MA 11:13AM March 05, 2009

grassrootshealth uctelevision
are the youtube search terms that lead to a series of presentations by leading Vitamin d scientists. They include Frank and Cedric Garlic, Heaney, Trump, Gorham, Sane. They are scientific presentations so it may be worth downloading them as you may need to watch them more than once.
The sunscreen dilemma is probably the most worrying although the heart disease, cancer, and diabetes talks are also very interesting.

Ted Hutchinson 9:51AM March 05, 2009