Commonly referred to as the “sunshine vitamin,” Vitamin D’s positive effects on our health cannot be overlooked.
Have you ever went on a vacation and felt better immediately when you feel the rays of the sun hit your skin? You are not alone.
It is the only vitamin that humans can generate from the sun. And It is now estimated that up to 1 billion people are deficient in this vitamin.
Taking Vitamin D can bring its users some incredible benefits. Keep reading this informative guide to learn more about vitamin D supplements and the fantastic benefits they can promote.
1. Supports the Immune System
One of the most prominent, yet overlooked vitamin D benefits is the support it gives to the human immune system. When your immune system is down, it leaves you vulnerable to illness and disease.
The problem is everyday tasks that you may not consider can weaken your immune system, including:
- Stress
- Excessive alcohol
- Not enough sleep
- Sitting down for a long time
As you can see, these few tasks, many people are guilty of, and it can lead to a deficiency and even a compromised immune system.
Luckily, you have the option and can easily take vitamin D supplements to prevent a deficiency. A review of studies on the subject concluded that vitamin D is a promising and relatively safe nutrient in the treatment of diseases that are caused by a compromised immune system.
2. Fights Inflammation
Inflammation, if left unchecked, can cause havoc on your body – damaging cells and organs and eventually diseases like cancer and heart disease.
One 2018 study shows how vitamin D plays a critical role in fighting inflammation. The study concluded saying “vitamin D inhibits the synthesis and biological actions of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins.”
These findings are crucial to the future uses of the vitamin as chronic inflammatory diseases are the number one cause of death in the world.
3. Strengthens Bones
When most people think of bone health, they typically associate it with calcium – but, without vitamin D, our bodies wouldn’t be able to absorb the calcium we intake.
A lack of vitamin D during childhood development can lead to severe complications like weakness of the bones, misaligned posture, and even rickets. Several factors have lead to an increase in vitamin D deficiencies among children, including:
- Less time spent outdoors
- Increase usage of soda over milk
The times of playing outside and drinking milk are no longer – instead, children have opted for more sedentary lifestyles, with video games being the main activity. It has been recently reported that 43 percent of adults in the U.S play video games often, and this number is expected to continue to climb in the coming years.
4. Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is another common culprit of disease and is the most common cause of deaths related to the cardiovascular system. High blood pressure has been reported to affect nearly half of the U.S adult population according to the most recent estimates from the American Heart Association.
There are specific lifestyle changes you can address like
- Diet changes
- Regular exercise
- Quit smoking
- Avoid alcohol
- Limit stress
But, in some instances, you will need more than that, and that’s where vitamin D comes in. A study conducted in Denmark observed the effects vitamin D had on blood pressure. Participants were either given 3,000 IU of vitamin D or a placebo – the researchers witnessed the group given the vitamin D had lowered their blood pressure more than the placebo group.
What is even more interesting is within the group taking vitamin D, those who had lower vitamin D levels, to begin with, had more significant reductions in blood pressure.
5. May Improve Symptoms Associated With Depression
It is a common association – the sun and happiness. With our bodies having the ability to absorb vitamin D from the sun, can it also improve our mood?
A review of studies on the link between vitamin D and depression witnessed an interesting observation – participants with low levels of vitamin D were at a much greater risk of experiencing symptoms of depression.
If you are looking to boost your vitamin D levels, you can do so by eating foods rich in vitamin D. Supplementation is another option if you find it challenging to consume adequate levels through your diet – when buying supplements online, it’s crucial to purchase from trusted manufacturers to ensure potency.
6. Helps to Prevent Cognitive Decline
It is a widely known fact that vitamin D is essential for brain health – the brain is filled with receptors in its tissue that collect vitamin D.
Many scientists and researchers are now looking into other ways vitamin D can affect the brain, like preventing cognitive decline. One way researchers are linking vitamin D, and cognition support is through its neuroprotective attributes. Scientists have recently observed vitamin D’s ability to clear amyloid plaques, a common indicator for Alzheimer’s.
There have also been several pieces of information linking low levels of vitamin D to Alzheimer’s. Can vitamin D play a more significant role in cognitive health than we once believed?
7. Lowers Risk of Certain Cancers
There have been several studies linking the effects vitamin D has on the prevention of certain types of cancer. These studies were brought about by early research that suggested those who lived in southern climates had lower levels of certain cancers than those who lived in the northern hemisphere.
The types of cancer that have been studied include breast, pancreatic, prostate, and colorectal. Researchers are now beginning studies on different forms of vitamin D to see if it does indeed have anti-cancer properties.
Interested in Learning More About Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that assists in many different functions of the body, including assisting in calcium absorption. The benefits of taking vitamin D are beginning to become more and more evident.
The future of the vitamin is bright – as more studies are completed, it should reveal more potential uses. For more on the benefits of vitamins and minerals, check out the rest of our website!
