The Benefits and Importance of Vitamin D

We can’t create vitami
D on our own. The best way to obtain the recommended doses of vitami
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 vitami
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 vitami
D and how available they are we have to ask ourselves – How it is possible to be vitami
D deficient? Vitamin D deficiency is, unfortunately, a widespread problem today so let’s see what vitami
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 vitami
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 vitami
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 vitami
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 vitami
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 vitami
D deficiency causes obesity, or vice versa.

Vitamin D and cancers

The relationship between vitami
D deficiency and cancers is already known, but new studies have shown that vitami
D can destroy breast cancer cells. Although it doesn’t mean that the cure for cancer has been discovered, there is certainly some hope.

Vitamin D and Depression

The results of a great number of studies show that vitami
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.

When we see what are all the benefits of vitami
D, the only thing we have to do is to test our levels of vitami
D and try to keep them at optimum levels.