The Benefits and Importance of Vitamin D

We can’t create vitamin D on our own. The best way to obtain the recommended doses of vitamin D is through sun exposure. The best thing here is that we only need 15-20 minutes in the sun, a few days a week, to absorb enough vitamin D. This vitamin can also be obtained through food – especially through oily fish (salmon, tuna, and mackerel) and other foods which are fortified. When we look at the sources of vitamin D and how available they are we have to ask ourselves – How it is possible to be vitamin D deficient? Vitamin D deficiency is, unfortunately, a widespread problem today so let’s see what vitamin D does for the body and why is it important for us. Vitamin D for healthy bones When we start thinking about the functions of vitamin D in our body we have to take in account that this vitamin doesn’t function on its own. There are many hormones and nutrients which accompany it and for example they have a great effect on the health of our bones and prevent rickets in children, and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. These diseases are to blame for bone deformities and bone fractures in the first place. Strong immune system Some studies have discovered that vitamin D plays a key role in regulating and keeping the perfect hormonal balance in our body and the proper functioning of our immune system. To be more précis, Vitamin D is very important for keeping our immunity active and in case of vitamin D deficiency, the T cells will not be able to eliminate viruses and bacteria and prevent the occurrence of various infections in our body. Vitamin D deficiency and Obesity According to some observational studies there is a clear connection between vitamin D and obesity. The results of these studies suggest that obese people have problems to convert this vitamin into its active form. However it is not clear whether vitamin D deficiency causes obesity, or vice versa. Vitamin D and cancers The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and cancers is already known, but new studies have shown that vitamin D can destroy breast cancer cells. Although it doesn’t mean that the cure for cancer has been discovered, there is certainly some hope. rnVitamin D and Depression The results of a great number of studies show that vitamin D plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of depression and other mental problems. This discovery definitely has to be researched more because the number of people affected with some mental health problems is increasing every day. rnWhen we see what are all the benefits of vitamin D, the only thing we have to do is to test our levels of vitamin D and try to keep them at optimum levels.