Great Benefits of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is fat soluble (meaning your body stores it). According to Dr. Amen, Vitamin D, which is technically a hormone rather than a vitamin, is a crucial nutrient.

Unfortunately, many Americans – even those who eat a good diet – are vitamin D deficient. Typically, we get a vitamin D boost from the sun, but because we are wearing more sunscreen and spending more time INSIDE our levels are falling, putting us at greater health risks.

Vitamin D plays a key role in our brain, body and overall health. Based on Dr. Amen’s research, these are the main benefits of Vitamin D:

1. Immunity: Research has clearly shown that vitamin D deficiency is part of the seasonal nature of cold and flu outbreaks – less sunlight means less vitamin D, which leads to lower immunity and more illness.
2. Bones: Vitamin D is essential for the proper absorption of calcium and it reduces the risk of fracture in two ways. First, it helps with the formation of stronger bones and second, Vitamin D helps improve balance.
3. Muscles: Vitamin D makes muscles stronger.
4. Lungs: Vitamin D posesses a range of anti-inflammatory properties resulting in greater lung health benefits.
5. Heart: There is an indirect relationship between the level of Vitamin D and high blood pressure so the lower the Vitamin D level the higher the blood pressure, which in turns affects our heart health.
6. Kidneys: Because Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it helps to regulate kidney function and plays a very beneficial role in treating kidney disease.
7. Mood: The lower your Vitamin D levels the higher your chances to feel blue rather than happy. The positive effect of Vitamin D has been comparable to the effects of anti-depressants.
8. Weight Loss: When you don’t have enough Vitamin D you feel hungry all the time no matter how much you eat. The appetite hormones are out of balance. When then level of Vitamin D is restored the appetite hormones act normally thus creating the feelings of satiety and aiding in weight loss.
9. Cognitive Function: Research has demonstrated that Vitamin D has a variety of neuroprotective roles, including helping to rid the brain of beta-amyloid, an abnormal protein that is believed to be a major cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

It is best to get your Vitamin D from sun and foods. How do we get Vitamin D from Food?:

Vit D is found in:

• Salmon
• Tuna
• Sardines
• Fortified Milk
• Cod-liver oil
• Eggs
• Butter
• Mushrooms

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