Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?
Did you know that most obese people have low levels of vitamin D in their blood and that, perhaps, getting the right dosage of “D” could help with weight loss? Did you know that your body stops making vitamin D when it gets enough sun? You can only overdose by taking too many supplements. Read on to find out why you should make sure you are getting enough D.
Why You Should Have It
Your bones - Vitamin D is imperative for building strong, healthy bones. It assists the body in absorbing calcium from food and can help prevent fractures. Children that don’t get enough “D” are at risk for getting rickets, bowed legs, knock knees, and weak bones.
Prevention of maladies - Researchers have found links between a deficiency of vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, obesity, depression, as well as osteomalacia (bone softness), muscle weakness, and other skeletal problems.
Where You Can Get It
From the sun - When the sun touches your skin, your body starts to make its own vitamin D. While this is a major source of vitamin D, not all people can generate the same levels. For example, fair-skinned people may get plenty on a sunny day, while it’s much harder for older people and those with darker skin tones to make the same amount. Experts say relying on the sun may not be a sufficient way to get enough.
From foods - Very few foods have naturally occurring vitamin D, however, swordfish, mackerel, and salmon may give you even more than is required. Foods that have smaller amounts of “D” include egg yolk, beef liver, fortified cereals, and fortified milk.
From supplements - If it’s more convenient for you to swallow a pill then worry about sunbathing or cooking a fish, the following pills may help. There are two kinds of vitamin D in pill form. D2 (ergocalciferol), the kind found in food, and D3 (cholecalciferol), the type found in sunlight. While the two types are produced differently, they can both contribute to raising “D” levels in your blood.
Some research has shown that having enough vitamin D in your system could help protect against diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, and even depression; researchers are still looking into these connections. What you can do, at least until there are more solidified studies in existence, is make sure you're getting the right amount of vitamin D by following the options above.
Always consult your primary physician or chiropractor for all health related advice.
