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8 ways Vitamin D helps build a healthy body

Posted: 11 May 2017 | | No comments yet

Just how essential is vitamin D? Are we getting enough of the stuff? Ashley Rosa offers her insight into the 8 reasons it remains essential…

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Vitamins are those essential compounds that help the body grow and function at its optimal. Unlike carbohydrates, proteins and fats, vitamins don’t provide energy, but their regular intake helps in boosting your immunity, protecting bones from getting weak, healing wounds, strengthening your eyesight, are necessary for brain development and on top of that, have anti-cancerous properties.

It has been observed that people often give less importance to vitamin D, unlike other vitamins. But the fact is vitamin D is equally important for good overall health and strong and healthy bones. Another important role of vitamin D is to make sure your heart, muscles, lungs and brain work well and that your body can fight infection. The best source of vitamin D is within our reach. Yes, that’s true. Your body has a God gifted ability to make its own vitamin D from sunlight. It is produced when your skin is exposed to the sun. Since a very small amount of vitamin D is found in the food you eat, so you can balance the deficiency by consuming vitamin D supplement pill too.

Sometimes ‘the less is more’ philosophy doesn’t apply everywhere. A lack of vitamin D can sometimes cause a condition called rickets in youngsters and a condition called osteomalacia in adults. Both of these conditions lead to soft, thin, and brittle bones.

Here’s an overview how vitamin D helps build a healthy body:

Fighting diseases

There are numerous researches that highlight the importance of vitamin D. According to a study published in 2006, adequate intake of this important vitamin may play a role in reducing your risk of multiple sclerosis. Along with that it also decreases your chance of developing cardiovascular disease, also helps to reduce your chances of developing cold and flu.

Vitamin D fights depression

Research has shown that vitamin D influences our emotions and can play an important role in managing mood swings and depression. According to a study, researchers came to know that people with depression who received vitamin D supplements observed an improvement in their symptoms. In a similar study of people with fibromyalgia, scientists found vitamin D deficiency was more common in those who were also experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Vitamin D strengthens teeth

Keep that smile because vitamin D strengthens your teeth. It has been observed that vitamin D is important for increasing the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the diet you take. Vitamin D also helps in strengthening your teeth’s battle with germs by helping your body absorb calcium and phosphate better. This important vitamin also increases the amount of good antimicrobial proteins which can destroy the germs and bacteria that cause caries.

Keeps hair healthy

Thin locks or hair loss, in general, can be a nightmare for anyone. If you are cleaning your drain more than usual, then it’s time to take a closer look at your food intake. Vitamin D and low iron levels could be the culprit behind thinning of your hair. Include salmon, fortified milk and orange juice in your diet along with vitamin D supplements.

Helps the immune system

The function of your immune system is to keep you healthy and away from diseases. Anything that supports your immune system is a boon to your health. Vitamin D is best for the immune system, and you will notice that not getting enough of it each day will land you in trouble of the risk of reduced functioning of your immune system. A weak immune system makes you vulnerable to several diseases and unwanted conditions. It’s better to increase your intake of vitamin D through diet, sun exposure, and supplementsbefore putting your immune system at risk.

Helps manage blood pressure

High blood pressure has always known to be a silent killer. High BP levels can lead you to several health related conditions. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that the blood pressure levels stay in the desired range for overall health and well-being. Since Vitamin D can make you feel calmer and happier, it automatically leads to lowered blood pressure, without much use of prescription medication to accomplish the same goal. Think of getting more sun exposure, because this is the way the body creates Vitamin D on its own.

Prevents cancer

As mentioned above, vitamin D may help is preventing cancer. And this reason itself is big enough to get your daily dose of vitamin D. Although a reputable institute like National Cancer Institute says that there aren’t enough facts and figures that support the claim that vitamin D helps to prevent cancer, but there are several clues that hint to it being at least slightly helpful in preventing some forms of cancer. So while it may not have been officially proven as a cancer warrior, the general concept is that its consumption definitely doesn’t hurt either.

Helps with weight loss

Vitamin D helps in reducing excess weight. Don’t be surprised, it really does. If you are following a weight loss plan, then skipping vitamin D from your daily diet will double your efforts of losing weight. If you are daydreaming about getting the desired body shape through weight loss, incorporate vitamin D into your daily routine to achieve your dream body. The options are in your hand, you can either choose to eat more foods that are rich in vitamin D, or you could also expose yourself to sun rays to make your own, or take some help from a supplement to keep your levels on the right track. Usually, a combination of all three of these options is recommended. Along with appropriate compound exercises would definitely burn fat and enhance your gains.

Conclusion

Vitamin D is jam-packed with goodness because it does wonders to our bodies in so many ways. There are numerous benefits of getting the proper amount of Vitamin D that you can’t afford to miss. You have a list of options to play with. The ideal way to balance the level of vitamin D is by combining food, the sunshine, and a supplement if needed. Vitamin D stands out among other vitamins because your body can actually manufacture it by getting regular exposure to the sun. So in order to enjoy a healthy, fun-filled life, start giving importance to vitamin D in your life.