Troglobites are a class of animals that live without ever seeing sunlight — and they come in some weird shapes and sizes. The eyeless, white, dragon-like amphibian called an olm can survive without food for up to 10 years, and lives for around 60.
Despite a life spent without sunlight, olms reproduce generation after generation without much trouble. In fact, they're related to several species that emerged some 190 million years ago.
Humans, on the other hand, don’t do so well in the dark. We're natural sunshine seekers, and our biochemistry depends on sunlight to help regulate everything from our sleep cycles to our immune systems.
We make vitamin D, which functions as a hormone, through the interaction of sunlight with the body (our livers and kidneys are responsible for making D bio-active).
We know that vitamin D promotes calcium absorption (bone health), modulates cell growth, and immune and neuromuscular function. But can it treat erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Researchers at the University of Milan think so. Their research suggests that vitamin D helps prevent arteriogenic (clogged-up or inflexible blood vessels) ED that is caused by circulation problems.
It turns out guys with this kind of ED have measurably lower blood levels of vitamin D — below 20 mg/dL. The researchers suggest that guys with ED get their D level checked and, if it's low, consider taking a therapeutic dose, plus get 15 minutes of daily sun exposure.
That will brighten up your dark nights!
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