Such a vitamin really exists!

If you don’t believe me, then you should trust what scientists say.

They place great hopes in vitamin D – a vitamin that arises from the skin’s reaction to sunlight, certain foods or supplements.

Vitamin D – health benefits

Let’s find out what the essential health benefits are if we have a normal intake of vitamin D:

maintains the health of the skeletal system from childhood to old age

Vitamin D helps to better absorb calcium from food. In the case of the elderly, a daily dose of vitamin D helps prevent fractures and prevents bone fragility, and in children it helps to promote the harmonious development of the skeletal system and prevent rickets, a condition that manifests itself in bowed legs, large knees and fragile bones prone to fractures.

Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis

Although sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, there is no clear link to whether vitamin D can help prevent this condition.

diabetes and vitamin D

Some specialists believe that there is a close connection between these, but it is not known exactly which causes which.

On the one hand, there is the possibility that supplementing the diet with vitamin D can keep type 2 diabetes at bay, and on the other hand, excess body fat, a characteristic symptom of patients with diabetes, can cause a decrease in vitamin D levels in the body.

vitamin D and weight loss

It is scientifically proven that obese people have extremely low levels of vitamin D. Fat holds the vitamin in place, preventing it from reaching the body and doing its job.
However, it is not clear whether obesity is a factor in vitamin D deficiency or vice versa.

But a small study shows that people who follow a calorie-restricted diet and take vitamin D in parallel can lose weight more easily and quickly.

Vitamin D and different types of cancer

There is strong evidence that vitamin D may be a promising aid in preventing and treating many forms of cancer, from colon to breast to prostate. Low levels of vitamin D may also contribute to the cognitive decline that occurs with age.

On the other hand, an elevated level of vitamin D can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer if we do not follow a balanced diet, do not keep our weight within normal limits and fall prey to a sedentary lifestyle.

Vitamin D and depression

You might think they have nothing to do with each other. But the opposite is true. Vitamin D plays an essential role in brain development and function, and studies confirm that administering high doses of vitamin D is associated with a visible improvement in symptoms of depression.

Rich sources of vitamin D

In the summer season, this is easy to achieve if we simply laze in the sun for at least 15 minutes a day. Of course, protect ourselves with sunscreen and a hat, lest we get sunstroke. In the less sunny seasons, vitamin D can be obtained from food.

The richest natural sources are: salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, egg yolk, beef liver, cereals, nuts, apples, dairy products, etc.

If these are not enough, you can use vitamin D supplements, which come in 2 forms: D2 – ergocalciferol (the same type found in food) or D3 – cholecalciferol (the form obtained through sun exposure).

How does vitamin D deficiency manifest itself?

First, you need to know the risk factors. These are: being over 50, having dark skin, living in Nordic countries, being overweight, obese or having undergone gastric bypass surgery, having a dairy allergy and suffering from liver or digestive diseases such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease.

After learning what the risk factors are, you will know that you lack vitamin D if: your bones frequently hurt, you have muscle weakness, you have vision problems, you feel sleepy during the day, you get tired easily, you are thirsty all the time, etc.

And if you want to be even more sure, go to your doctor, who can do a simple blood test to determine the level of vitamin D in your body.