We all know that vitamin D is good for you and you get plenty of it if you spend time out in the sun. However, what would you say if someone asked you what vitamin D is? Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that also acts a precursor to a steroid hormone. That sounds pretty fancy right? That’s because vitamin D is essential to our body!
What is the purpose of Vitamin D?
Vitamin D has numerous functions in our body, however, its major role is in the metabolism and maintenance of calcium. Vitamin D goes through multiple conversions in the liver and kidneys. Once it has been converted, vitamin D manage the amount of calcium in your blood, bones and gut! Other functions of the body that vitamin D aids with include:
- Immune system, which helps you to fight infection
- Muscle function
- Brain development
- Anti-cancer effects
- Respiratory system
Reasons you may be deficient in Vitamin D:
- If your body needs more vitamin D than usual, i.e. you are overweight or pregnant
- If you have darker skin tones
- If you don’t get enough sunlight, especially if you live in the Northern regions
- If you cover your skin all the time
- If you are elderly
It is estimated that approximately 40% of the population is vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency can be determine by getting a 25(OH)D Blood test to determine the levels of vitamin D in your blood.
How do you get the necessary Vitamin D?
The two main ways to get vitamin D are exposure to sunlight and vitamin D supplementation. Getting regular skin exposure to sunlight will help build up your vitamin D levels. For those needing to supplement with vitamin D, a high quality vitamin D3 is best as this is the type of vitamin D that your body produces in response to sun exposure.
There are few foods that naturally contain vitamin D, here are the top 5:
- Cod liver oil
- Wild caught salmon
- Wild caught mackerel
- Wild caught tuna
- Wild caught sardines
Your friend in health,
Dr. Christelle Vang
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.