Today in the spotlight is Vitamin D3 – also known as the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’🌞, this essential, fat-soluble vitamin is manufactured by the body through sun exposure.
With the rapid change in the weather 🧥(sweater season did not last long!), I thought this was the perfect time to talk about Vitamin D3! Since we are no longer able to get adequate sun exposure through our skin in this part of the country, it’s a good time to think about adding a vitamin D supplement to your regime. Supplementing with vitamin D in the colder months is very important as vitamin D deficiency is a very common deficiency here.
Vitamin D comes in two forms: D2 and D3, with D3 being more bioactive. While our bodies synthesize D3 from sunlight, it is difficult to obtain adequate amounts through foods, even considering some foods (milk, cereal, yogurt) are fortified with it. In the body, vitamin D is responsible for maintaining normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, helping to build strong bones. Vitamin D may also contribute to the overall health of the cardiovascular system. Vitamin D works with other vitamins, minerals and hormones to promote bone mineralization. Research also shows that vitamin D may help support a healthy immune system by regulating lymphocyte function, cytokine production and macrophage activity. New research on vitamin D is ongoing revealing other surprising benefits all the time. Find out more in this article from Alive Magazine: https://www.alive.com/health/vitamin-d-update/
How much vitamin D do you need? Supplementing with 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day is ideal for most adults. Check with your health care practitioner if you think you’d benefit from a higher dose. Could you benefit from taking vitamin D3? BOOK an analysis and find out!