Photo Credit: Brian Moss
Jim Stoppani, PhD
Many people know vitamin D as the sunshine vitamin, but more individuals are deficient in vitamin D than ever before–even in south Florida. We’ve been made so aware of the dangers of prolonged sun exposure that everyone covers up with sunscreen, which blocks the sun’s rays and interferes with vitamin D production.
Add to this the fact that for anyone living north of Atlanta, Georgia, it’s impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from the sun alone. I recommend taking 2,000 international units of vitamin D. This is a lot more than the U.S. recommended daily allowance–between 200 and 600 lUs–which I believe is way too low. A growing body of knowledge says that low levels of vitamin D are related to a host of physical ailments, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Photo Credit: Brian Moss
So, how is this related to bodybuilding? First, a healthy body is easier to train. Second, data shows that there is a seasonal variation in athletic performance, which means that during the months in which you get maximal ultraviolet exposure (i.e., vitamin D), athletic performance is better. Third, when you introduce vitamin D to people who are deficient in it, it seems to promote the growth of fast-twitch muscle fibers.
Jim Stoppani, PhD
