Should I Take Vitamin D?
Should you be taking a Vitamin D supplement? 🌞
Vitamin D is one of the more common vitamin deficiencies to have. You are more at risk for low levels of vitamin D if you are post-menopausal, avoid the sun or always have on sunblock, have higher amounts of melanin in your skin, are obese or have IBS. Geography and time of year also have a role, as well as the air quality. Those living in areas with more smog can have more vitamin D deficiency.
Adequate amounts of vitamin D is necessary for bone health and helping to prevent osteoporosis. It also plays a part in helping to prevent cardiovascular disease and helps the immune system function optimally. It may also be linked to helping with diseases such as PCOS, Chrone disease and diabetes. It also helps with mood and low levels of vitamin D can lead to depression.
The best source of vitamin D is the sun and it is generally recommended that you get at least 10 minutes of exposure to the sun every day.
Vitamin D is found minimally in foods. Cheese, eggs, beef liver and fortified foods all have sum but it would be difficult to get enough on diet alone.
So why not supplement? Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin (along with ADE and K) and therefore it is possible to take too much. The most common concern of taking too much is kidney stones (especially when taken with calcium) and a negative impact on your cardiovascular system.
Optimally, have your doctor check you vitamin D levels and determine if supplementing is right for you. In the meantime, get out and enjoy the sun when you can.
