What You Should Know About Vitamin D
It is known as the sunshine vitamin, but why is Vitamin D so important and how do you know you are getting enough of it?
What Is Vitamin D And Why Do You Need It?
Vitamin D is one of many nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. It has powerful effects within your nervous, muscle, and immune systems.
It is important in bone growth and strength because Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Calcium is one of the main building blocks of bone, as well as playing a critical role in muscle contractions and nerve impulses. Severely low levels of Vitamin D can result in soft, brittle bones, muscle pain and even weakness.
Let’s not forget about how Vitamin D impacts your immune system! The implications of Vitamin D deficiency on the immune system have become clearer in recent years. Vitamin D deficiency makes you more susceptible to infection and diseases.
No Vitamin D deficiency in these strong boys!
Could You Be Vitamin D Deficient?
The answer is yes! Vitamin D deficiency is very common. It's estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of the vitamin.
According to a 2011 study, 41.6% of adults in the US are deficient. This number goes up to 69.2% in Hispanics and 82.1% in African-Americans. Vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common and most people are unaware of it because the symptoms are often subtle and non-specific.
If you think you may have a deficiency, it's important to get in touch with your medical provider and get your blood levels checked.
Signs That You May Need Vitamin D:
1) Since Vitamin D plays an important role in immune function, some of the most common symptoms of deficiency is an increased risk of illness, poor wound healing, and infection.
2) Excessive fatigue and tiredness may be a sign of vitamin D deficiency.
3) Low blood levels of vitamin D may be a cause or contributing factor to bone pain and lower back pain.
4) Depression is associated with low vitamin D levels and some studies have found that supplementing improves mood.
5) A diagnosis of low bone mineral density or osteoporosis may be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. Getting enough of this vitamin is important for preserving bone mass as you get older.
6) Hair loss may be a sign of vitamin D deficiency in female-pattern hair loss or the autoimmune condition alopecia areata (patches of hair loss).
7) There is a link between chronic pain and low blood levels of vitamin D, which may be due to the interaction between the vitamin and pain-sensing nerve cells.
How Can You Get More Vitamin D?
You can get vitamin D in three ways: through your skin, from your diet, and from supplements.
It’s sometimes called the sunshine vitamin for a reason! Your body forms Vitamin D naturally after exposure to sunlight. But too much sun exposure can lead to skin aging and skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology advises that when in the sun, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 (preferably zinc based). Exactly how much sun exposure you need is not clear. Five to 15 minutes of sun exposure two to three times a week to the face, arms, legs, or back may be all that is needed to absorb a suitable amount of vitamin D. Older patients, those with darker skin color, and those living in northern climates might need more sun exposure (especially in early spring and late fall).
It's also found in certain foods, such as fatty fish and fortified dairy products, though it's very difficult to get enough from diet alone.
The simplest way to make sure you have enough of this important vitamin is through supplementation. This is where Neolife comes in!
CAL-MAG with 400 and 1000 IU of Vitamin D3
How Much Vitamin D Should You Take?
The goals of treatment and prevention of Vitamin D are the same -- to reach, and then maintain, an adequate level of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D comes in two forms: D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Studies have shown that these two forms are equally good for bone health. The recommended daily intake (RDI) is usually around 400–800 IU, but many experts say you should get even more than that. In fact in older adults, 800-2000 IU is recommended.
Fixing Vitamin D deficiency is simple, easy and can have big benefits for your health!
