4 Reasons Supplementing Vitamin D is Essential
Vitamin D is one of the most essential nutrients, not just for immunity, but overall health! This fat-soluble vitamin acts as a hormone and plays a vital role in bone health, gut health, depression and preventing infection.
Prevent Infection with Vitamin D
You hear about vitamin C, but vitamin D3 is just as important for a strong immune system! Many studies have linked low vitamin D levels to increased risk of infection, including upper respiratory tract infections. One double-blind placebo study resulted in a 42% decrease in the flu in school-age children, while lack of supplementation significantly increased chances of infection. The older population are especially at risk for vitamin D deficiency, making it even more crucial to supplement.
Vitamin D Promotes Bone Health
Probably the most commonly known benefit of vitamin D is that it's important for healthy, strong bones! This nutrient helps your body absorb and maintain calcium balance, needed for bone health.
Vitamin K2 should always be in your vitamin D supplement, as K2 helps your body absorb calcium into the right places, such as the bones, instead of the wrong ones, such as your arteries. If you're looking to support your structural system, our liquid D3 with K2 is great nutrient to add your stack!
Vitamin D Protects and Promotes Gut Health
Not only has vitamin D been shown protective for gut health, researchers have found deficiencies to be extremely common in those suffering from IBD. Low levels are connected to a more difficult disease process and higher disease activity.
Vitamin D affects the cellular health and integrity of the gut barrier, making it an important addition to your gut-healing protocol. Additionally, with a large percentage of immune cells residing in the gut, this nutrient plays a key role in regulating the response between the gut and immune system.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Depression
Vitamin D deficiency is commonly seen in people with depression and it may play an important role in treatment. Light therapy is often used for seasonal depression, but one study showed that vitamin D supplementation improved SAD patients even more than light therapy. For our clients struggling with depression, we recommend getting serum vitamin D levels tested and starting supplementation.
Can’t You Get Vitamin D From Food?
A little, but not nearly enough! Fatty fish and egg yolks are sources, but supplementation is needed to get adequate levels for disease prevention. Vitamin D-fortified foods should be avoided as they are the toxic, synthetic versions.
What to Look For in a Supplement:
Always take D3, or cholecalciferol, the active form of vitamin D. Plant-based D2 is not as easily utilized by the body. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it needs to be taken with a fat source for proper absorption, so look for a D3 that’s in a healthy oil like olive or coconut oil and take it with food.
Again, D3 should contain vitamin K2 to ensure calcium is absorbed into the correct tissues. Lastly, it’s important to note that the recommended dose (DRI) of around 600 IUs for vitamin D supplementation is extremely low and will not provide therapeutic benefits.
Be sure to take advantage of all these benefits and incorporate vitamin D into your daily life!
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568997220302470?dgcid=rss_sd_all
https://www.naturalhealth365.com/vitamin-d-leaky-gut-3620.html
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20219962/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/#R15
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908269/
