Why take vitamin d3 supplements?

When it comes to vitamins, there’s one particular nutrient that we tend to overlook – Vitamin D. That’s right, the good ol’ sunshine vitamin that keeps our bones strong and our immune systems in check. But with many of us leading busy lives indoors and binge-watching Netflix instead of soaking up the sun, are we getting enough Vitamin D naturally? The answer is a resounding NO! And if you don’t believe me at first glance (or if you’re just here for some indoor entertainment), sit back, relax and let me tell you why taking Vitamin D3 supplements can make all the difference.

Understanding what is Vitamin D

Before we dive into who could benefit from supplementing their diet with Vitamin D3 tablets or those yummy orange chewables…let’s talk about what exactly this “Vitamin” D business is all about, shall we? In short – it’s not really a ‘vitamin’ at all! Technically speaking, it falls under the umbrella of ‘hormones’. Crazy huh?

Vitamin D, which includes both ‘ergocalciferol’ (vitamin d2) and ‘cholecalciferol’ (vitamin d3) (‘generic name’, anyone?), still needs your regular grocery-list-trips because guess what…you cannot synthesise too much healthy amounts easily yourself thoughburies itself deep beneath another layer of jargon : something along the lines 5-dehydrocholestrol..blah blah blah…).

We’ve said it earlier: exposure to sunlight helps kickstart its synthesis within our bodies but since we are not blessed with yearlong sunny days…(and no amount of fake tan will replace sunshine) , supplementation provides us with safe doses!

Vitamin D was scientifically discovered in 1927 by accident when doctors were trying hard to get rickets( a painful bone disease) under control. With vitamin D, people could finally absorb calcium better – which would make their bones much much stronger. Yay us!

Who needs Vitamin D3 supplements?

Surprise, surprise everyone! You don’t get a free pass just because you had a side of broccoli last week or one bottle of milk today. If you belong to any of the following groups then congratulations – your body craves some more.

1) The night owls

If you are someone who prefers long late-night netflix binges or shutdown marathon sessions over soaking up some sun-in-the-‘fun’…then my dear friend, chances are what we call in the industry “you’re screwed.” Rubbing on sunscreen every hour? All that does is blocks Vitamin D synthesis ,adding salt (hopefully with added iodine) to injury. No matter how great Vampire diaries may be after all there was only one Edward Cullen.Note this ,evenings/breaks/fun times often lead to indoor sport rooms/gaming arcades/showing sandcastles who’s boss..we’re mostly giving our healthy happy selves vampires and not sunshine!

2) Pregnant women

Our body’s demand for nutrients goes up during pregnancy and while mommy passes on her share via umbilical cord …there has been research that indicates babies born from deficient mothers have lower birth weights as well as other problems post-delivery! So Dear Soon-to-be-Moms: help yourself and embrace those chewies .Your family will thank you later.

3) Poor gut absorption

Complications aside,treatments often lead to malabsorption…what happens when your body cannot properly take in food through its digestive system? Shortage-driven headaches,inadequate sleeping pattern,hence tons of fatigue can occur amongst many things.Plus…if it weren’t obvious enough already–not-absorbing food won’t exactly provide adequate nutrient intake levels!. But like all things bright and shiny, there is hope! Supplement dosage can make up for it so that your body gets the nourishment it needs.

4) Elderly people

As you get older… your skin goes from producing sufficient amount of Vitamin D to barely any at all. With osteoporosis plaguing an increasing number of seniors these days,a quick-fix through supplements or fortified foods (think: calcium-rich yoghurt or milk!) can help slow down bone loss if not cure completely.

5) Everyone’s favourite ‘lil’ group.. Vegans/Vegetarians!

In a world where bacon-stuffed burgers & gooey cheesy pizzas lurk around every other corner, more and more people are going vegan/vegetarian – which on its own is great!– except when we recall that most plant-based sources carbon dioxide as they take in oxygen within their ‘leafy-luscious-abodes.Anyways–sunlight-dependent egg yolks/fish/oily-fish liver oils aren’t part of their diet anymore.Risking nutritional deficiency isn’t always easy but here’s the deal:Why risk falling short?

Oh! Remember those Dark winter months? It’s hard enough wake up with dreary mornings—imagine feeling even worse because deficient in vitamins for some reason — vitamin D3 tablets could combat this exact issue!

Benefits of taking Vitamin D3 supplements

“But what benefits am I actually getting if I pop one pill every morning?” Well my friend, buckle-up coz’ we have loads to talk about:

  1. Stronger immune system: Did you know that activating our cells via ingesting Vitamin-D supplements promote healthy cell division and increase ability to fight off infections ! The kinds that leave us bed-ridden anyway.Upping V-D thus results in fighting off aliens coughs,colds,infections etc.!
  2. Healthy bones and teeth: This’ll not just offset the risk of osteoporosis but also improve the functionality of our pearly-whites!
  3. Improved heart health: There’s a lot that’s directly linked here–Lower blood pressure, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease(British Heart Foundation shines their approval). No need to stan’ science when all you have is to sound fancy every once in a while!
  4. Boosted mental health: Sunshine boosts emotional well-being as many writers would argue… Studies too show seasonal depression happens because we often lack Sun-drenched rays between October-March.Bucks up mood and spirits.
  5. Metabolism booster: Maybe this alone won’t do much—-but it could kick-start us into starting life-long habits necessary for losing/maintaining weight loss.

But don’t overdo-Taking high doses(not neccessarily recommended if at all without seeing registered medical practitioners–also known are risks/side-effects) can lead to nausea,vomiting,bone pain and even kidney failure if left unchecked.

Dosage guidelines

When talking about Vitamin D dosages: there isn’t an exact ‘Ideal amount” that works for everyone.The amount required will vary on your needs based on where you live (sunshine quantity), ethnicity, skin complexion etc.. But,recommended daily intake for most adults-the range comes from roughly 2000iu-6000iu .

Btw: UV radiation may cause cancer concerns in itself…which is all the more reason why experts suggest moderation.Avoid going anywhere near anything with ‘tanning’ mentioned during/after ingestion.

Another helpful tidbit—it’s best taken along with food!It helps absorb better!

Let me reiterate: please DO NOT OVERCONSUME, especially since non-prescribed supplement overdose might be hazardous.

Food sources rich in Vitamin D3

Yes: I know what you’re thinking. “Why do we have to pop pills if our food sources could solve everything as well?”

Not that it’s a race but the answer is of course ‘balance’.

For Natural Vitamin d,all you gotto do chug tons of milk…but If it ain’t your favourite,it’s okay! Sneaky sun-drenched alternatives exist in our foods specifically :

1) Fatty fish – Wild salmon is top on this list and containing more than 1000acues for every serving!

2) Egg yolks– Did someone say omelettes or home-made ice-cream?

3) Mushrooms – Portabella mushrooms are known carriers.

4) Soy & Almond Milk (frantically notices allergy sufferers and suggests other options such as cereals etc)–Infact fortified dairy products like cheese too- often tout hence their ‘Vitamin-D-fortified’ qualities purely for consumption purposes.

Yet these alone might not be enough which makes supplements an excellent form to ensure complete nutrition.

Conclusion

In summary ,the health wonders associated with vitaminD3 outnumber any risks related or otherwise when taken mindfully.So don’t just drop everything and rush out blindly(although sunshine-within-limits does no harm)— See how supplementing from prescribed dosages beneficially impacts these fun quirks mentioned earlier.I already feel better now knowing people can happily embrace those chewables/bottles without stigma(myself included).

So let’s put some faith back into our body,and trust taking supplements recommended by doctors ,to actually help overcome deficiencies,lead longer,stress-free lives filled with endless episodes of binging shows whilst snuggling under blankets during winter!

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