Vitamin D has also shown to decrease muscle pain, fatigue, lethargy, as well as acute depression. Getting just the right amount of vitamin D and not too much of it is essential to keep your body healthy and functioning well. If you want to have enough vitamin D, there is nothing better than getting some sunlight. In this article, we will talk about some of the essential things you need to know if you are vitamin D deficient. This will help you in recovering your vitamin D levels and lead a healthy life.
Age And Colour Matters
No pun intended but age and colour do matter in the synthesis of vitamin D. Young individuals who are fair-skinned can produce vitamin D much better than old people over the age of 50 and those who have darker skin.
Still, the statistics show that dark-coloured people in Africa tend to have more vitamin D levels than white-coloured people in Europe. The reason is that Africa has excessive sunlight while Europe stays comparatively cold and without much sunlight. Sunlight is essential for vitamin D synthesis. That is why you should go to the beach and get a good amount of sunlight whenever there is a sunny day.
Why Is Vitamin D Important?
Vitamin D is one of the essential components needed by our body. Vitamin D helps in making stronger bones that can in turn protect you from various other conditions. Rickets is a vitamin D related disorder that causes softening of bones in children that results in bone deformities. If this condition develops in adults, it is called osteomalacia.
Calcium and phosphorus are two essential elements that build strong bones. But our bodies cannot process it without vitamin D. Softening of bones can also result in other conditions like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Developing these conditions can also increase your chances of fractures. That is why it is necessary to have adequate vitamin D levels, so the body can absorb calcium and keep the bones strong and healthy.
Sources Of Vitamin D
Vitamin D can be taken in a variety of ways. Some methods or source of vitamin D include
Having a sunbath for 15-20 minutes three days a week.
Eating healthy foods rich in vitamin D.
Taking vitamin D supplements.
Why Sunlight Is Important?
Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin for a reason. Our bodies produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to UV rays from the sunlight. But many factors affect the absorption.
If you live in a place where UV rays don’t reach you because of the thick ozone layer, you may not be able to produce adequate vitamin D. The time of day is also important in the synthesis of vitamin D. Usually, 10 am to 3 pm is the best time to get enough vitamin D.
Final Words
Vitamin D is an essential component to maintain good body health. Deficiency in vitamin D levels can cause various conditions and can even lead to conditions like cardiovascular diseases, depression, insomnia, and eye problems. If you live in an area that does not have an adequate supply of sunlight, we suggest you take vitamin D supplements to remove the deficit.