VITAMIN D IS OFTEN AN OVERLOOKED AND UNDERVALUED NUTRIENT, THAT ACTUALLY PLAYS AN ENORMOUS ROLE IN MANY CRUCIAL SYSTEMS IN OUR BODIES. WITH A COLD AND DARK TASMANIAN WINTER ON IT’S WAY, DR TIM DISCUSSES WHY IT’S IMPORTANT.
Vitamin D – what is it? It is an essential nutrient required by the human body to maintain good health. Vitamin D is essentially converted sunlight. It is essential for strong bones, immunity, energy production, muscles and overall health, and has also been linked with the prevention of several cancers. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is necessary for the production of vitamin D in the skin and is the best natural source of vitamin D.
Even though the sun is the best natural source of vitamin D, you need to balance sun exposure with skin cancer risk. If you don’t get enough sunlight, you run a very real risk of not getting enough vitamin D, which can be damaging to health and wellbeing.
Nearly one third of Australian adults are suffering vitamin D deficiency according to a study involving more than 11,000 adults from around the country. Scientists are now saying that vitamin D deficiency has become a serious worldwide health problem.
People who cover their skin while outdoors, and the immobile elderly who are rarely sun exposed are at high risk of Vitamin D deficiency. Also, modern day life involves a lot of time indoors, at work and at home, etc, meaning a huge number of the general population risk deficiency.
Particularly in Winter, when we all spend less time outdoors, and the sun is less prevalent, we are all at risk of not enough Vitamin D production.
One of the best ways to boost your Vitamin D levels without needing to spend lots of time in the sun, is via a good quality Vitamin D supplement. At Chiropractic on Collins, we stock the Innate Choice brand of D-sufficiency drops – an easy to use, once a day, liquid Vitamin D. This is the highest quality and most effective supplement form of D3 available.
DID YOU KNOW…..
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, another essential nutrient.
There is good evidence that supplementation with vitamin D and calcium, in combination with weight-bearing exercise, can decrease the risks of fractures in the elderly.
Research suggests that vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, and multiple sclerosis.
Using sunscreen significantly reduces your body’s ability to convert sunlight into vitamin D.
Vitamin D plays a large part in maintaining a healthy immune system. Meaning that in Winter when sun exposure is the least, vitamin D supplementation can reduce their chances of colds and flus, etc.
Researchers are saying that depending on our skin complexion, to derive enough vitamin D from sunlight, we would need to stand completely uncovered in the middle of the day sun for 10 minutes on average. Are you getting this much sun?
If you think you are not getting enough sun, there are simple and effective supplements available to increase vitamin D in your body. Speak to your Chiropractor about this!