Everyone says that Vitamin D is important but why? What is Vitamin D? What does it do? How do we get it, and what makes it so essential during COVID (closer to the end of the article)? To start off, every cell in the human body has a receptor for Vitamin D; that indicates that it’s crucial to the body.
But what is Vitamin D? Well, it isn’t actually a vitamin, it’s actually a steroid hormone. Vitamin D’s primary function is to promote the body's absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which is essential for the normal development and maintenance of bones and teeth. Research has shown that Vitamin D has many secondary functions as well, like boosting the immune system and protection against cancers. [1] [2]
New Vitamin D studies show that a healthy amount of Vitamin D helps with weight loss, helps with diabetes, decreasing heart disease risk markers, helps with blood circulation, improving mood, warding off depression, helps lower anxiety, and assisting with many other health concerns. [3] [4] [5] [6]
How do I get more Vitamin D? Sunlight is how the human body naturally makes Vitamin D when sunlight hits the skin, it stimulates the human body to produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D can also be found in specific foods like egg yolk and mushrooms, and there are special UV lamps that expose the same rays as the sun. You can also take Vitamin D supplements, but remember that not all supplements are the same.
The symptoms of a Vitamin D deficiency in adults include: tiredness, aches and pains, and a general sense of not feeling well. Those with serious deficiencies may experience severe bone or muscle pain and weakness that may cause difficulty climbing stairs, or getting up off the ground.
Doctors can diagnose Vitamin D deficiency by performing a simple blood test and going over the results. It is important to check your levels for Vitamin D because too much Vitamin D in the system for an extended period of time can lead to negative effects. Sometimes X-rays are performed to check bone density.
Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common deficiencies in the world. In the US, up to 42% of the adult population is Vitamin D deficient and this rate rises to 70% in Hispanics and 82% in black people because darker skin blocks the sunlight from being absorbed by the human body. It doesn’t help that we also spend much more time indoors and away from the sun. [7]
It can be hard to get enough Vitamin D each day through sun exposure and food alone. As mentioned before, if you work indoors for large parts of the day, don’t have a UV lamp, and aren’t able to nourish yourself with the appropriate amount of Vitamin D through foods, then your doctor will recommend you take a daily Vitamin D to supplement a healthy lifestyle.
So what does Vitamin D have to do with COVID?
A new research study has come out suggesting that countries with the highest rate of Vitamin D deficiencies have higher mortality (death) rate linked to the COVID-19 virus, suggesting that people who have appropriate levels of Vitamin D have a better chance at fighting the COVID virus. [8]
Here is a quick snippet of Dr. Rhonda Patrick explaining why Vitamin D is so important.
https://youtu.be/tBSfIckPV44
So what do we do differently here at Wellness Health Group and why do our patients love our clinic?
We ask the right questions.
Order the right tests.
Treat the right problems.
And you enjoy the difference!
Hormone Replacement Therapy, Supplements and Vitamins, Wellness Nutrition is what we do here at Wellness Health Group because we look at the whole body.
Here at Wellness Health Group, we provide patients relief using Functional Medicine, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement, Supplements, Vitamins, and Wellness Nutrition.
We hope you enjoy these posts and we here at Wellness Health Group are glad you're being proactive in your own health maintenance. To schedule an appointment please call us at 956-581-2168 or visit WellnessHealthGroup.com for more information.
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