May 18, 2017
Health Benefits of Vitamin D (and How to Get More Of It)
Vitamin D is an important vitamin that directly impacts many vital functions in the human body. But, what studies are finding is that there are many Americans that are Vitamin D deficient despite seemingly easy access to sources of Vitamin D. The Washington Post reports on how prevalent Vitamin D deficiency really is, “What is known is that many of us don’t get enough. A 2010 study in Nutrition Journal found that 42 percent of U.S. adults were deficient in Vitamin D, with the highest rates among African Americans and Hispanics. Children are also at risk: A report in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine showed that 12 percent of children had Vitamin D deficiencies, and an additional 40 percent exhibited higher but still insufficient levels. We have all been told to cover up and seek shade when outside – avoid direct sunlight at all costs. The motivations behind this advice are noble; avoiding direct sun exposure will help prevent skin from being damaged and aged by the sun and it can also reduce the risk of skin cancer significantly. But, there is one problem with this advice – the best source of Vitamin D is sun exposure. There are also good food sources of Vitamin D such as milk, eggs, cod liver oil, sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, mushrooms, caviar, breakfast cereal, tofu, and more.” Limited sun exposure (less than 30 minutes) is the quickest and most effective way to increase your Vitamin D levels, but it is also important to eat foods rich in Vitamin D. Additionally, your physician may recommend a Vitamin D nutritional supplement to help increase your Vitamin D levels if necessary. Vitamin D is a powerful vitamin that your body needs. Vitamin D offers many health benefits, but here are 3 of the most significant:
1. Supports Bone Health
Vitamin D is critical for developing strong bones and maintaining their strength as we age. We have all been told by our mother’s to drink our milk so that we can grow strong bones, and our mothers were right! The National Institute of Health explains the role Vitamin D plays in bone health throughout life, “Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.”
2. Supports Heart Health
When your body has an adequate intake of Vitamin D, it can help lower blood pressure and support heart health. Individuals with a deficiency in Vitamin D have been shown to have an increased risk of dying from heart disease. Vitamin D reduces things like hypertension, atherosclerotic heart disease, heart attack and stroke!
3. Reduced Risk of Cancer
We all know someone that has been affected by cancer and we all want a way to reduce our risk of developing cancer. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health elaborates on the clinical evidence that Vitamin D can reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer, “dozens of studies suggest an association between low vitamin D levels and increased risks of colon and other cancers. The evidence is strongest for colorectal cancer, with most (but not all) observational studies finding that the lower the vitamin D levels, the higher the risk of these diseases. Vitamin D levels may also predict cancer survival, but evidence for this is still limited…based on the evidence to date, 16 scientists have circulated a “call for action” on vitamin D and cancer prevention: Given the high rates of vitamin D deficiency in North America, the strong evidence for reduction of osteoporosis and fractures, the potential cancer-fighting benefits of vitamin D, and the low risk of vitamin D supplementation, they recommend widespread vitamin D supplementation of 2000 IU per day.”
