Vitamin D is quickly becoming one of the most talked about Vitamins because of the amazing benefits as well as the dangers of not having enough. A statistic from a 2009 March report by the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that 75% of U.S. teens and adults are deficient in Vitamin D.
I am very passionate about Vitamin D because I am one of the 75% that are deficient. You may be thinking to yourself, “I am not deficient so no need to continue reading.” Well, I encourage you to continue because I love the sun, I wear less sun screen than most, and I had taken a 400IU dose Vitamin D supplement for two years before I was tested this past summer when I found out I was deficient.
Why is Vitamin D so important? The research is showing many benefits with optimal levels of Vitamin D. Some of those benefits are:
- Boosting your immune system so that you have a greater resistance to viruses such as the cold and flu virus
- Building strong bones
- Enhancing your memory and concentration
- Supporting healthy digestion
- Preventing and reducing the chance of developing cancer, specifically breast and colon cancer
- Reducing inflammation in the body
- Regulating insulin activity and blood sugar balance
- Boosting your mood
- Preventing chronic fatigue
While the sun is the best and most natural way to soak up Vitamin D, most do not absorb enough of the UV-B rays to create the amount we need for optimal health. With winter around the corner this makes it even harder to get the amount of UV-B rays from the sun that we need.
So what can you do to get more Vitamin D?
1. Eat Vitamin D rich foods:
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Porcini mushrooms
- Eggs (the yolk too)
2. Take a Vitamin D3 supplement. If not sure what dosage check with your doctor. I recently chose a liquid Vitamin D through Live the Source, as liquid is known to have a better absorption rate. It can be purchased at a retail price and opportunities to purchase at a wholesale price are available.
Live the Source – Vitamin D Booster (liquid)
3. Get more sunlight each day. Even getting 10 – 15 minutes without sunscreen, being careful not to burn, will help in manufacturing more Vitamin D for your body.
How do you know if you are deficient?
You need to get tested. You can ask your doctor to do a simple blood test or you can order a kit that you can do at home. Here are a few sites that offer an at-home kit that you send away for results:
Since finding out I am deficient, I have increased my dosage of Vitamin D3 and have plans to get re-tested in a few months. Take action now to get tested as the benefits truly outweigh the consequences. Getting optimal amounts of Vitamin D can literally be lifesaving.
For more information on Vitamin D you can check out the following sites:
- Vitamin D health – Dr. Holick
- Dr. Mercola
- Dr. Mark Hyman
- Vitamin D Council
- Grassroots Health
- WHFoods
