Vitamin D: More than just bone health

Most people think of Vitamin D as something that you get through milk or the rays of the sun, which is true, but supplementation is vital in today’s society to obtain this essential vitamin. Lack of quality in food combined with the general bombardment of environmental/chemical toxins and stress make it necessary for supplementation to keep our bodies healthy.

Vitamin D is not actually just one vitamin but a variety of them.   Vitamin D2 being the version used to fortify food products and D3 being the natural form most commonly found in foods such as fish, egg yolks, and butter. Vitamin D is vital for many body parts such as the intestines, kidneys, brain, pancreas, skin, bones and reproductive organs.  It has also been found in studies that it has a positive effect on cancer cells too.  Vitamin D works hand in hand with other nutrients such as Calcium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C to improve bone health, cardiovascular function and immune function.

There is an overall lack of this crucial nutrient by many people in the world.  Deficiencies in Vitamin D can lead to many severe and chronic health issues.  The most well known condition is Osteoporosis.  Inadequate levels of Vitamin D leads to poor absorption of calcium in the intestinal tract and retention of Phosphorus in the Kidneys. This ultimately results in poor bone structures.  Other conditions that are directly or indirectly associated with Vitamin D deficiencies are: Rickets, Tetany, Hearing loss, Nearsightedness, Celiac disease, Ulcers and Obesity.  All Vitamin D deficiency diseases are helped or arrested with Vitamin D therapy.       

The benefits of a high quality Vitamin D product are many and varied.  It helps to strengthen bones and can be particularly helpful to women going through menopause and elderly men and women.  Vitamin D has been linked to slowing or stopping bacteria that cause disease.  Vitamin D, along with Vitamin A and C are beneficial in reducing incidence of colds.  Vitamin D has been used in animal research and had lead to prevention of autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis.  It has also been linked with the production of insulin, helping to manage glucose levels in the body.

This versatile nutrient is something that should be included in anyone’s health regiment.  Whether it is helping strengthen our bones, providing cardiovascular support or boosting our immune system, Vitamin D is part of many basic functions within the human body.  Sunlight exposure and our food sources give us a fraction of the Vitamin D that we require.  Supplementation is key to helping us maintain a healthy balance in today’s world.