The Sunshine Vitamin! This is a unique vitamin, because as I said
before, vitamins are only classified as such if they can’t be synthesized by
the body in sufficient amounts and therefore need to be obtained through the
diet. Vitamin D, however, is synthesized
by our bodies when we’re exposed to the sun.
That explains why most people feel better in the summer months rather
than the winter…
Vitamin D aids the body in the
absorption of calcium, therefore it is good for healthy bone and cell
development. It is also great for the
immune system and it reduces inflammation.
Vitamin D is under more research as
far as how the brain is affected by it, but so far studies have shown that it
is beneficial both for children with brain dysfunction as well as elderly
suffering from depression. I can attest –
I shared with you my update on how I’ve been doing in my journey from
postpartum depression, and I started feeling a lot of changes when Vitamin D
was introduced into my diet in larger amounts.
Not only does it benefit your
brain, it helps in many other ways as well.
Pregnant women can lessen their chances of pre-eclampsia (a disorder
resulting in high blood pressure, edema, and protein in the urine) – according to
a study done by the University of Pittsburgh, “A vitamin D deficiency early in
gestation is associated with a five-fold increase risk of developing
pre-eclampsia”. Yikes!
Studies have also shown that
children who get more vitamin D early in life have less of a risk of developing
Type I Diabetes later in life.
Vitamin D also helps protect cells
from oxidative stress and keeps cells healthy by fighting the damages of free
radicals. This explains why Vitamin D
has been linked to helping with cancer, especially breast and prostate
cancer. It helps suppress the cancer
growth and restrict the blood vessels that feed cancer cells.
Vitamin D is also very
antimicrobial which helps kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi in your body, thus
making it great for cold and flu season!
Not only does it kill those bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can make
you sick, it also helps PREVEN T them from getting into your body in the first
place! Some studies have even shown that
colds and influenza could actually be a result
of vitamin D deficiency… That’s some
exciting news! I’d much rather increase
my vitamin D levels than get a flu shot!
Especially since more and more studies and evidence continues to surface
showing that the flu shot is completely ineffective (and not only that, but
harmful…).
Spending time in the sunlight is
the best way to get Vitamin D. Studies
have shown that 15 minutes of sun exposure is recommended for those with light
skin, and around 30 minutes is recommended for those with darker skin. Obviously that’s hard to do in the winter, so
vitamin D can be obtained through the diet as well, mostly from fish or fish
products like cod liver oil (which you can take as a supplement), salmon,
herring, mackerel, sardines, tuna, and also caviar and oysters. And for you sushi fans like myself, there’s
more vitamin D in raw fish than cooked.
Vitamin D can also be obtained from eggs and mushrooms.
So, if you’re suffering from the
common cold way more than you’d like, sounds like Vitamin D might help you
out! Maybe this is why Harlee has been
so healthy this winter… sure he’s had his fair share of snot and congestion,
but nothing that’s ever progressed into full-blown sickness. I bought children’s liquid vitamin D, which I
drop in his juice every day. After
researching for this article, I definitely won’t be stopping that routine! Nor will I be eliminating my vitamin D
supplement from my daily vitamins as well!
Stay healthy everyone!
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