Health Benefits of Vitamin D

Vitamin D, also known as calciferol, is a nutrient that plays a significant role in your health. A fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver and in the fat tissues of the body, it brings forth numerous health benefits in the prevention and cure of certain diseases.

This vitamin is naturally produced in the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight, which is why it is also called as the “sunshine vitamin.” It is also found in various types of food.

The Numerous Functions and Benefits of Vitamin D

Traditionally, Vitamin D has been known to perform these major functions: to metabolize phosphorus and to maintain the normal levels of calcium in the blood to make stronger bones. For years, lack of sufficient Vitamin D levels in the body has been linked to rickets and other bone-weakening diseases.

But recent studies show that Vitamin D has many other functions, aside from building strong bones. It delivers more benefits crucial for optimal health. When maintained to optimal levels, Vitamin D provides excellent support for various organ systems. It strengthens your immune system and allows for a healthy cardiovascular system. This vitamin also relieves pain and makes your skin radiant and young-looking.

Vitamin D offers protection against certain diseases, some of which are:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Cancers
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• High cholesterol levels
• Neurological disorders
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Osteoporosis
• Depression
• Autism
• A variety of autoimmune disorders
• Obesity
• Reproductive system disorders
• Kidney failure
• Muscle weakness
• Skin disorders
• Tooth decay
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The Best Way to Get Vitamin D

To get all the amazing benefits of this “sunshine vitamin,” the best way is through sun exposure. Basking your skin under the sun’s UV rays for 10 to 15 minutes can produce 10,000 to 20,000 IU of Vitamin D.

Note that optimal sun exposure varies from one person to another. The amount of vitamin D that a person can get from the sun is different depending on location, weather, skin color, lifestyle and many other factors.

Alternative Ways to Help You Boost Your Vitamin D

When getting natural sunlight isn’t possible, using tanning beds is an alternative way. Tanning beds have lights that produce UV-B rays, which create Vitamin D upon contact with the skin. These UV-B rays are the same kind of rays that are emitted by the sun.

Nutrition expert Dr. Joseph Mercola cautiously recommends using only a safe tanning bed as not all tanning beds are the same. While most tanning systems make use of magnetic ballasts that emit cancer-causing electromagnetic field (EMF) rays, a few is designed with electronic ballasts that are safer to use. A bed that has this kind of safe technology is the Mercola Vitality Home Tanning Bed. Aside from its Vitamin D-producing UV light, it has two other types of light: Infrared, which relieves muscle pain; and Red Light, which boosts collagen production that makes the skin look radiant and young-looking.

Taking oral Vitamin D supplements is also another way. But before taking one, it is best to have your blood levels tested to determine how much Vitamin D is needed by your body.

Dr. Mercola’s previous recommendation is to use high quality cod liver oil as it naturally contains Vitamins D and A. He revised this recently as he found that this type of oil provides inappropriate and dangerous balance of Vitamins D and A. Dr. Mercola, thus, no longer recommends taking cod liver oil as a Vitamin D supplement for children and adults.

Optimal Levels of Vitamin D Can Benefit Your Health

Vitamin D can really do amazing wonders for your health. That is why you should make sure that you get optimal levels of Vitamin D every day. Get enough sunshine as you can. If you can’t, you can always use a safe tanning bed or consult your doctor for an appropriate Vitamin D supplement that is best for you.

For more insight on Vitamin D and other similar topics, you can always read through this site for more informative articles.

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