The Top Health Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a vitamin that is produced by the body in response to sun exposure. It is sometimes known as the sunshine vitamin because it is produced in your skin in response to sunlight. It can also be boosted by eating certain foods and taking supplements. Vitamin D is important for bone health and creating a strong immune system. The health benefits of Vitamin D include:
Healthy Immune System
Vitamin D has been shown to have a positive effect on the immune system and helps to reduce the likelihood of getting the seasonal flu according to a 2010 research article.
Boosted Mood
Some research has shown that Vitamin D plays a role in boosting mood and may help to prevent depression. Researchers believe this is because vitamin D plays a role in healthy brain function therefore insufficient vitamin D may play a role in depression.
Bone Health
Vitamin D plays a role in calcium regulation and is important for calcium reabsorption in the intestine and the kidney. Calcium is required for healthy bone structure and therefore low vitamin D levels can lead to rickets in kids and a condition called osteomalacia in adults, which is softening of the bones. People with osteoporosis can often have Vitamin D deficiency.
How Do You Become Deficient in Vitamin D?
Vitamin D deficiency can develop quite easily due to lack of sun exposure. We are lucky living in sunny Queensland so it’s important to make an effort to spend a small amount of time each day getting sun on your skin to boost your vitamin D production.
Leverage the Health Benefits of Vitamin D with Diet and Sun
Doctors can easily test your vitamin D levels so if you are low in vitamin D, despite living in such a sunny climate, it may be worthwhile talking through your options.
If you find out you are deficient in vitamin D, there are a couple of ways to increase your daily dosage. Spending around 10 minutes a day in the sun (with sunscreen on) can boost your vitamin D production and help you realise some health benefits of vitamin D. Foods like fatty fish, milk, orange juice, mushrooms and yoghurt are also good natural ways to increase your vitamin D levels. As well as this, if your doctor thinks it’s necessary, they may provide you with supplements to help you maintain optimum levels.
For More Information, Get in Touch
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the health benefits of vitamin D, feel free to get in touch with Dr Miki. She has a wealth of knowledge and would love to help you out.
