Everything You Need to Know About Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a powerful nutrient that you and your family need in order to stay healthy. It helps your body absorb calcium, which is important for strong bones and teeth. It also plays a role in your immune system, heart health, brain development, and more. Unfortunately, many of us don’t get enough vitamin D from our diets or sun exposure. So let’s explore why this vital vitamin is so important and how you can make sure you and your family are getting enough of it.

Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium from food sources like dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and legumes, which is necessary for the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth, with a reduced risk of fractures. A lack of vitamin D can lead to a condition known as rickets, in which the bones become soft and weak, and osteoporosis, in which bones become brittle and weak.

Vitamin D has been shown to help protect against various types of cancer, including breast, colon, and ovarian cancer. One study showed that women who took a daily vitamin D supplement had a significantly lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who did not take a supplement.

Vitamin D has been shown to play a role in mental health by helping regulate mood disorders like depression or anxiety and cognitive function. One study found that people with higher levels of vitamin D were less likely to experience depression than those with lower levels. (Here is another study) Additionally, several studies have found that vitamin D can help to improve cognitive function throughout life—it has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia later on down the line!

Vitamin D has been shown to help prevent respiratory infections, such as colds and flu. One study found that people who took a daily vitamin D supplement were less likely to experience respiratory infections than those who did not take a supplement.  Additionally, vitamin D can help boost immunity against colds and flu by acting as an antioxidant in the body—and it even has anti-inflammatory properties that could help reduce symptoms of autoimmune diseases like arthritis.

Vitamin D is necessary for pregnant women and their babies. A lack of vitamin D during pregnancy can lead to preterm birth and low birth weight. Additionally, vitamin D is essential for the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system

Get out in the sun!!  We need at least a half hour of mid-day sun exposure daily.  And eat the plants and other foods filled with Vitamin D!  However, most people don’t get enough vitamin D from their diets or sun exposure alone—so supplementation is often necessary if you want to reach optimal levels of this important nutrient. Fortunately there are several ways to supplement with vitamin D safely and effectively! First off, look for a high quality supplement that contains other nutrients that work synergistically with vitamin D to provide maximum absorption into the body’s cells. Or look for a source that combines with calcium and other nutrients to support bones specifically.  Additionally opt for supplements made with natural sources such as fish oil or cod liver oil; these forms provide the most bioavailable form of this vital nutrient and has the added brain benefit of Omega 3 fatty acids! 

Taking care of yourself means taking care of your body too—and ensuring adequate levels of vitamin D is an essential part of doing that! This powerful nutrient helps strengthen bones and teeth while boosting immunity against colds and flu viruses—not to mention its potential benefits for mental health as well! Fortunately there are several ways you can supplement with this essential nutrient safely—just make sure you talk to your doctor first before beginning any sort of supplementation program. Taking good care of yourself now will pay off big dividends down the line!