When the weather is warm and we are spending more time outside we can get all the vitamin d we need from sun exposure. However as the weather changes and we start to cover up and spend less time outside it is a different story. Even if you are spending a lot of time outdoors, here in the northeast the sun isn’t as strong and our body can’t make sufficient amounts of vitamin d from sun exposure alone. That is why we need to supplement.
Vitamin d serves many functions in our bodies. The most severe symptom of deficiency is rickets which is a softening of the bones. This condition is almost nonexistent in developed countries as much of our food is fortified with vitamin d. This is enough to prevent the most severe of symptoms but most people are still walking around with vitamin d levels that are less than optimal.
Vitamin d is unlike other vitamins in that it is a precursor to many of the hormones in our bodies. Low vitamin d levels will disrupt the production of these hormones. A good example is testosterone. Many people, men and women, have low testosterone levels due to various environmental factors. Many of the plastics used in food production and storage are estrogen enhancers and upset the normal hormone balance. Avoiding plastics as much as possible is a wise choice for many reasons and supplementing with vitamin d can help balance hormone levels.
Vitamin d is also a key component in a strong immune system. One of the reasons we get more colds in the winter is because of falling vitamin d levels. It is also because we are in closed up houses, schools and offices spreading our germs around more. Boosting vitamin d levels will help protect you from colds and the flu. Next week look for a whole newsletter on avoiding colds and flu.
Low vitamin d levels have also been linked to several types of cancers. Published studies have shown an increase in skin cancer with dropping vitamin d levels. This creates confusion for some people as the primary source of vitamin d is the sun but we are taught to avoid the sun due to skin cancer. This is why you should practice safe exposure limits to the sun and not avoid it completely.
Vitamin d has even been shown to help reduce the amount of cavities in children. A study of over 250 children showed a link between lower vitamin d levels and cavities. You can read what I wrote about that study here.
As you can see healthy vitamin d levels are essential to a healthy lifestyle. If you are concerned your levels are low you can ask your primary care physician to have your levels checked with a simple blood test. This is always a good idea to know how much you should be taking because vitamin d is fat soluble meaning your body stores it in fat cells so it is possible to take too much.
