Vitamin D and Your Health—Are You Getting Enough of the “Sunshine Vitamin”?

When former CDC Chief, Dr. Tom Frieden, stated that Coronavirus infection risk may be reduced by Vitamin D, a lot of people began asking questions about this vitamin—and how they can make sure they are getting enough of it.

There are so many outstanding health benefits associated with vitamin D, and the best thing is, you don’t even have to head to the local pharmacy to get it. Also known as the “Sunshine Vitamin,” you can actually get a healthy dose of vitamin D, just by being out in the sun.

Vitamin D isn’t just a supplement that people are talking about now either, it is an important part of a balanced, healthy body—and the more you know about this supplement and what it can do, the better.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is difficult to find in most foods, which is why many people don’t get enough vitamin D in their diets. The unique thing about vitamin D is that it can be produced endogenously when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun.

This triggers vitamin D synthesis.

Simply put, if you want to start adding more vitamin D to your diet, you can just go outside in the sun and your body will naturally start doing the work.

What Are Other Ways You Can Get Vitamin D?

While sunlight exposure is a great first step, there are other ways you can make sure you are getting enough vitamin D. According to the U.S. Endocrine Society, the average person should be getting between 1,500 – 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day. However, most people are only getting a fraction of that amount.

Here are some other things that you can be doing to make sure you are reaching your daily vitamin D goals:                                    

• Eat more fatty seafood. This includes tuna, mackerel, oysters, shrimp, sardines and anchovies.
• Add mushrooms to your current diet—they are the only completely plant-based way to get vitamin D.
• Keep the yolks inn! Egg yolks have a lot of healthy nutrients in them, like vitamin D.
• Consider adding vitamin-D fortified foods to your diet like almond milk, orange juice, tofu or certain types of yogurt.
• Start taking a vitamin D supplement. Just make sure that you get a high-quality supplement that has been independently tested. You can always ask us about a product first!

Or, of course, you can sit outside or near a sunny window. Aim for 30 minutes of sun exposure at least twice per week, especially in the winter, to keep your vitamin D levels high.

What Are the Other Health Benefits of Vitamin D?

Many experts are talking about vitamin D right now because this supplement is known to reduce the risk of respiratory infection and can limit the risk of viruses like COVID-19 and influenza. However, there are other benefits of vitamin D that won’t just help keep you safe from illness, but that will actually help you stay healthy, all year long.

Vitamin D can:

• Build strong teeth and bones.
• Help with hypertension and normalize high blood pressure.
• Promote healthier sleep patterns.
• Fight off diseases like multiple sclerosis, heart disease and the flu.
• Regulate mood and warding of depression and depressive-like symptoms.
• Aid in healthy weight loss.
• Boost your immune system.
• Keep your nervous system healthy, along with regular adjustments.

While getting enough vitamin D won’t completely prevent you from getting COVID-19 or any other airborne illness—it may provide modest protection for people, including those in vulnerable populations.

Unfortunately, even with all of these known benefits, about 40% of adults in the United States are still vitamin D deficient. If you are experiencing aches, pains, bone or muscle pain—you may be suffering from a vitamin D deficiency.

If you have more questions on vitamin D, make sure to reach out to us here at McAuliffe Chiropractic. We would be happy to help you learn more about vitamin D and review some of the different ways you can start adding this supplement to your daily routine. You can book appointments online or call our office at 301-776-0755.