Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin occurring in several forms,
required for normal growth of teeth and bones, and produced by
ultraviolet irradiation of sterols found in milk, fish, and eggs.
Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D has many benefits and is easy to add to your diet either
through vitamin supplement or in such foods as fish, eggs and milk.
Sunlight is a significant source of our daily production of vitamin D,
and even as little as 10 minutes of exposure to the sun is enough to
help our body absorb it. There are two forms of vitamin D that are
important to us; ergocalciferol or vitamin D2 and cholecalciferol or
vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 is synthesized by plants, while Vitamin D3 is
synthesized by humans in the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet rays
or sunlight.
Recent research has shown that vitamin D offers protection from
osteoporosis, high blood pressure and cancer. It assists in absorption
of calcium maintaining strong bones. Osteoporosis is a deficiency of
vitamin D which contributes to osteoporosis by plummeting calcium
absorption. Sufficient levels of vitamin D help maintain bones
stability. It can help prevent osteoporosis in older adults especially
those that have difficulty with mobility. D3 is known to promote
absorption of calcium and phosphorus from food and metabolism of calcium
in the kidneys, which will raise the flow of calcium in the
bloodstream. It is important in the mineralization of our bones.
People that live in sunny areas can manufacture most of the vitamin D
they need from their skin because of their increased exposure to
sunlight. In less sunny or cloudier climates the skin manufactures
vitamin D at a diminished rate, which can also cause seasonal depression
for many people in these areas. Many people that live in areas that
lack sunlight take nutritional supplements or multivitamin supplements
that add a D vitamin in their diet.
Preventive and Therapeutic uses
Classic vitamin D deficiency diseases are rickets and osteomalacia.
Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause rickets in children and may cause
skeletal deformities. Osteomalacia can form in adults due to a lack of
vitamin D and can cause muscular weakening. The elderly and obese people
are at high risk for vitamin D deficiencies because they typically get
less sun exposure than the average person.
Women are more likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiencies, especially
in elderly women. Vitamin D is especially recommended in the diet
elderly women. It is often seen in post-menopausal women. This
deficiency is common in older people having more incidences of hip
fractures. People with vitamin D deficiencies also have a higher risk of
cancer, Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis
and High Blood Pressure. Daily supplementation of vitamin D may reduce
the risk these above ailments.
Conclusion of why you should take vitamin D
In conclusion, taking vitamin D helps in maintaining the immune system,
cardiovascular system, skin and helps build our body’s resistance to
respiratory and other infections. Vitamin D can be found in milk, fish,
and eggs. So as you can see vitamin D can be easily added to your daily
diet, taken in some health vitamins, organic vitamins, nutritional
supplements and the best multivitamin to increase your overall health
and help protect your body from every day infections and sickness.
So as you can see vitamin D can be easily added to your daily diet,
taken in some health vitamins, organic vitamins, nutritional supplements
and the best multivitamin to increase your overall health and help
protect your body from every day infections and sickness.
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