What does a vitamin d supplement do?

Are you feeling like an undercooked biscuit lately? Sluggish, sad, and easily crushed under your own weight? Well, let me tell you friend, it could be time to get some vitamin D in your life.

Vitamin what, you say? Don’t worry, we’ve got everything (and probably more) that you need to know.

The Science-y Bit

First of all – let’s dip our toes into the science pool without drowning ourselves. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that helps regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in our bodies. This means it plays a massive part in making sure we have strong bones and healthy teeth.

But wait – there’s more! Vitamin D also has other roles like supporting cell growth and immune function. Some studies even suggest it can help reduce inflammation too! Alrighty then!

How We Get It

Now that we’ve established what vitamin D does for us…wait for it…where do I get my hands on this lil’ nugget from?!

Well now dear reader, put down that sun cream bottle because here comes the shocker: Our bodies produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight! Voilà – no need to take supplement pills after all right?

Howeverrrr….we run into two problems:

  • Living farther away from the equator
  • Not enough direct exposure at times when UVB rays are present(usually 10 am to 3 pm)

This makes getting adequate amounts through sunlight alone nearly impossible for those who live at latitudes above 37 degrees north or below 37 degrees south latitude or are stuck inside most of their days.

Other sources include diet changes such as eating fatty fish like salmon, egg yolks or fortified foods(such as cow’s milk). However, people may still not meet their daily requirements through diet alone.

Signs of a Vitamin D Deficiency

Sadly, like most things in life, too little of something can be just as bad as too much. So how do we know when we’re not getting enough vitamin D in our lives?

  • Bone pain
  • Muscle weakness
  • Increased risk of infections (put that hand sanitizer down folks)
  • Fatigue
  • Depression and/or Hair loss
  • Impaired wound healing

This sneaky little nutrient deficiency can creep up on even the best of us (particularly over those winter months). It’s important to get your levels checked regularly by visiting your healthcare provider, it’s recommended healthy adults should maintain serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(from blood tests)3 at or above range about 20ng/mL.

Benefits Of Taking A Supplement

So now onto why you started reading this article…

“Do I need to start taking supplements?”

Well..,it depends. If you have a dietary restriction or rarely go outside into daylight brighter than moonlit night then speaking with your health professional is always a good idea.
However, if you’re just concerned about ensuring optimal absorption from all nutritional sources since Vitamin D relies on other cofactors to work throughout the body such as Magnesium, Zinc & K2 Supplements may help provide additional support based on individual needs.

Let’s expand upon some common reasons people decide to supplement:

Preventing Seasonal Mood Changes

It’s no joke that winter blues are real! Studies suggest that vitamin D could help regulate mood via the hypothalamus(pituitary gland), and probably also supports serotonin production^^^. Translation: higher levels may equal happier minds!

Improved Athletic Performance

Nobody wants to drag their feet during workouts right? Studies have shown an increase in power output after supplementing with Vit-D for four weeks compared to placebo(~15% jump). It is beneficial for athlete performance and help in the recovery time.

Lower Risk of Chronic Illness

There are some studies that suggest taking vitamin D supplements may decrease your likelihood of developing medical issues such as certain cancers, multiple sclerosis(MS), type 1 diabetes etc. (Speak to a healthcare professional first before relying solely on supplement for prevention)

Phew! A lot to digest but there we have it folks – Vitamin D: What does a supplement do? As with many things relating to health and nutrition what works best will be different based on individual needs, dietary habits/sun exposure so always chat with your healthcare provider if you’re unsure!

##### Wrap Up

Until then I’m off out into the sunshine (see ya later winter blues!)… well maybe just turning up my brightness level whilst continuing writing from my computer.

Life’s all about balance guys :wink:!

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