Vitamin D – The “Sunshine” Supplement
Vitamin D – The “Sunshine” Supplement
Winter is upon us and so is the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin since it is made in the skin after exposure to the sun. We need vitamin D to keep healthy and to fight infections. The irony is that in winter, when people need vitamin D the most, (cold and flu season) they are not getting enough!
Originally, doctors thought that Vitamin D was important for only bone health. However, in the 1980s, scientists discovered that Vitamin D was involved in the biology of ALL cells and tissues in your body including your immune system. Yes, they discovered that immune cells had receptors for vitamin D! It has been shown that higher levels of Vitamin D help maintain the health of your gastrointestinal tract, reducing inflammation and susceptibility to IBS, Crohn’s disease, and other gut and lung infections. By consuming more vitamin D during the winter, your gut microbes will be healthier and you will be more resistant to infection and inflammation year round.
Vitamin D Bottom Line
If you have experienced any of the following symptoms: fatigue, low mood, weak bones, recurrent illness, unexplained aches and pains then you may be vitamin D deficient. In some cases you may even be symptomless. The only way to know for sure is to have your blood levels measured by your medical doctor.
In addition to the sun, there are a couple of things you can do to increase your vitamin D levels in order to achieve optimal health. You can start by including some of the following foods into your diet: oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, canned tuna), egg yolks, certain mushrooms, beef liver and fortified dairy and non-dairy products.Another way to raise your vitamin D levels would be to take a supplement.
Vitamin D 101 – A Detailed Beginner’s Guide (click link to read) https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-101
The recommended dosage for vitamin D varies from source to source. If you have any questions regarding appropriate vitamin D dosage, please don’t hesitate to call me or Dr. Venske. We would be happy to guide you through this process.