How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? Why You Should Care?

Find out How Much Vitamin D Is Enough to stay healthy. Here is a comprehensive guide from Gearuptofit.com that will provide you with all the information you need!

Vitamin D is the “sunshine” vitamin. Our bodies manufacture vitamin D when we’re in the sun. But most people don’t spend as much time outdoors as they should be. And even if we do go outside more often than average, many factors can affect how much Vitamin D our bodies produce:

• Where we live (the further north or south),
• What season it is (in winter there’s less sunlight!), and even
• How dark-skinned a person is (African Americans have less melanin in their skin, which allows more sunlight to get through).

Health Benefits of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a necessary vitamin that our bodies produce when sunshine impacts our skin. It may also be present in a few foods, including fish oils and fortified milk products. Many individuals are aware of vitamin D’s advantages for bone health. However, there are many other significant reasons to take this supplement or obtain it from natural sunshine. One study showed that people who took vitamin D supplements had lower levels of inflammation than those who didn’t take them. This suggests they may have reduced risk for some chronic diseases like heart disease.

Necessary for strong bones

The level of physical activity and whether or not you consume a lot of milk determines the amount you need. People who exercise a lot usually get more sun exposure, which naturally boosts the body’s levels of Vitamin D. A healthy diet with plenty of rich foods (like fortified soy milk and orange juice) will help give you the vitamin d your body needs to keep bones strong.

Vitamin D also assists the body’s absorption of calcium, important for healthy bones and teeth. In the growth of cells lining the gut, vitamin D also plays a crucial function. There are other health benefits to vitamin d as well. It may play a role in fighting infection, inflammation, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure.

Vitamin D is an immune system booster and a disinfectant. It produces immunoglobulin, which is necessary for the body’s ability to fight infections. When sunlight hits your skin, you synthesize vitamin D, which helps strengthen your immune system.

Here are some of the benefits you get from Vitamin D:

Better absorption of calcium and phosphorus

This leads to stronger bones and teeth. Vitamin D deficiency may lead to rickets, osteomalacia, and other disorders associated with bone and tooth decay.

Better muscle function

If your muscles have Vitamin D, they’ll be stronger and appear firmer. They will also recover faster from injury, like that sprained ankle you got during football season.

Fewer colds

Cases of flu and other infections by boosting the immune system.

Lower blood pressure

Appropriate amounts of Vitamin D have been associated with reduced blood pressure that is suitable for everyone.

Better heart health

Reduce risk for colon cancer

Few surprises in this world make you feel like hugging someone, but knowing that a simple vitamin can reduce colon cancer is one of them.

Reduce risk for breast cancer

As with colon cancer, Vitamin D lowers the chances of contracting this disease. Some studies show it prevents recurrence of the disease in those who already have it.

Depression reduction and improved moods

This probably results from the increased levels of serotonin in your brain. Thanks to Vitamin D, you’ll be happier every day!

Reduced risk for multiple sclerosis

Studies show that people with MS have lower levels of Vitamin D than those without it.

Helps prevent diabetes by regulating blood sugar

This benefit is significant for the elderly who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes. For those who don’t know much about diabetes, the higher your blood sugar, the more chance you’ll have for heart attack and stroke.

Reduced risk for osteoarthritis in women

I’m not sure why only women are affected here, but it could be because they get less sun than men.

Reduced risk for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders

Of course, it depends on how much sun you get. Studies that show a reduced risk are done in countries that get lots of sunshine. People from Canada probably won’t benefit, but those living near the equator should have plenty of this vitamin every day.

Reduces your chances of getting food poisoning and other infections

Since I get many questions on this, I’ll say it now: you’re not going to die if you don’t take Vitamin D for a few weeks (unless you live in the Gobi desert or something), but that doesn’t mean it.

Reduces inflammation of the digestive tract, kidneys, arteries, and lungs

It also promotes heart health by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

It is essential for strong bones and has reduced cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. 

Deficiency can cause various health problems, including bone loss and an increased risk for certain cancers. A calcium supplement may be recommended to help prevent these issues in those with vitamin D deficiencies.

What does vitamin D do?

When you think of the word “vitamin,” you may immediately imagine a pill that can improve your overall health. While this is true for most vitamins, vitamin D is more important than others because it’s not officially considered a vitamin at all, even though its chemical structure is very similar to other B-complex vitamins. Vitamin D is a vital chemical that the body manufactures when sunlight hits our skin. It’s also found in a few specific foods, such as fish oils and fortified milk products.

Because it has so many important functions, people should take vitamin D whether they lack this nutrient. For example, one of the earliest signs of vitamin D deficiency is rickets, a bone disease that makes your body unable to absorb calcium and phosphorous properly. A vitamin D deficiency can also cause osteoporosis. Or even heart problems in adults. So it’s vital to get enough sun exposure or take supplements if you’re not getting enough in your diet.

How much vitamin D should I take?

It’s tough to determine exactly how much vitamin D you need each day because people are sensitive to sunlight exposure and absorb it differently depending on their skin type and other factors. For example, if your skin is naturally dark or you prefer to wear a lot of thick clothing outdoors, you’ll need to spend more time in the sun than someone who naturally has pale skin and prefers less clothing. The most accurate approach to determine your vitamin D requirement is to visit a healthcare practitioner. He can prescribe a suitable dose depending on your age, weight, and any existing health issues.

There are more ways to increase your vitamin D consumption. For instance, you may obtain a sufficient amount of vitamin D through your diet by consuming salmon and fortified milk products. Because the body does not directly absorb all of the nutrients in these dietary sources, it is still recommended to see your healthcare practitioner for an appropriate vitamin D dosage.

How can I get more sunlight?

Sunlight is the main natural source of vitamin D. This is why nearly everyone in the world used to make this compound as needed without thinking about it. Today, many people live in parts of the world that are much too far from the equator to get adequate sun exposure regularly. Most countries have implemented national policies that make it difficult for people to get regular sunlight exposure on purpose. This is why many people are taking vitamin D supplements every day. Even if they’re not specifically deficient in this vitamin, if you’re unable to spend time outdoors regularly, it may be difficult for you to get enough vitamin D through natural sources.

Make sure to talk with your healthcare provider about how much sunlight exposure you can safely get from indoor tanning beds and other methods of UV light exposure. If you regularly spend time outside during the summer months, you may only need a supplemental dose of vitamin D every once in a while to ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs.

What are the side effects of taking vitamin D?

As with most vitamins, there are uncommonly few side effects of consuming too much vitamin D. Certain doses of this supplement can cause a few medical conditions. These can be nausea and vomiting, depression, and irregular heart rhythms. In other cases, vitamin D may not work because you naturally don’t get enough of it through sunlight exposure or diet.

Because it’s so essential for overall health to have adequate amounts of vitamin D, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider about how much you should be taking regularly. In most cases, it’s easy to get enough through natural sunlight exposure or simple dietary changes. Just avoid getting too much direction to avoid developing medical conditions like skin cancer and sunburns.

My healthcare provider recommended I take a vitamin D supplement, but I’m not sure which one to get.

What do you recommend?

I always recommend consuming foods that contain natural sources of vitamin D before trying a supplemental dosage. In most cases, eating salmon twice per week and drinking fortified milk every day will provide an adequate amount of this vitamin D. This will prevent developing any serious problems with your health. If you still can’t get enough of this essential nutrient through diet alone, look for a high-quality supplement that contains vitamin D in addition to other essential nutrients needed for optimal health.

There are many types of supplements on the market that contain vitamin D. Most of them are formulated from a combination of natural sources, such as fish oil and milk. The main difference is the amount of vitamin D in each pill. This is why it’s important to compare your options before buying one. If you want to see an improvement in your overall health or avoid some medical issues related to vitamin D deficiency, make sure it contains the recommended amount of vitamin D each day.

How much vitamin D do I need?

Current recommendations for vitamin D are based on the amount needed to maintain serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations above 30 ng/mL throughout the year. Based upon various evidence, this concentration is believed necessary for skeletal health and many other physiologic functions in humans. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of Vitamin D intake varies depending on age but ranges from 400 IU/day (10-50 years) up to 600 IU/day (> 50 years).

What are the primary sources of vitamin D?

The primary source of vitamin D is UVB radiation from sunlight, with some contribution from food. The primary dietary sources are fortified foods (i.e., dairy products and cereal grains) and fatty fish (e.g., tuna, salmon).

Based upon the above answer, it makes sense that if one wants to have adequate vitamin D levels, one needs to spend more time in the sun.

Factors that might affect your vitamin D levels include:

Age. Your vitamin D level can change as you get older because your skin produces less of it as you age. According to the study’s background material, individuals over 70 had lower vitamin levels than younger ones. There is a range of normal values for vitamin D tests, so results may not show low levels in older people if they are at the top of the normal range, 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml).

Obesity. More body fat implies your skin produces less vitamin D. If you have a BMI of 30 or above, even if you have normal vitamin D levels in your blood, you are more likely to have poor bone density.

Race/ethnicity. A person’s natural skin color results in less vitamin D production as the melanin content of their skin increases, and people with darker skin may be at greater risk for low levels of vitamin D because they spend less time outside. According to background information in the study, Black Americans tend to have lower levels of vitamins than do Caucasian Americans.

Smoking. Smokers have lower vitamin D levels than non-smokers, probably because they tend to stay indoors more often and have lower calcium intake.

Older adults should be tested for vitamin D deficiency if they take medication that might deplete vitamin D levels, including diabetes medications and antacids containing magnesium (to prevent stomach ulcers).

Smokers with low vitamin D levels should be advised to quit smoking. Severely obese people may need 600 units of vitamin D daily for several months to bring their level up into the normal range.

Should I take a vitamin D supplement?

The answer depends on who you ask.

On one side, you have some people — including the panel of experts that advises the US government on dietary guidelines — who believe that vitamin D is so critical to health that everyone should take a supplement. On the other side, you have plenty of evidence showing that most people get enough vitamin D from sunlight and food.

Here’s the evidence that scientists know about so far

We need vitamin D for strong bones and health. Our bodies make it when our skin is exposed to sunlight. And we can also get it from a few fortified foods like milk and some cereals (although there’s still debate about how much we absorb from these foods).

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and may help prevent some cancers, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that people with more vitamin D in their blood are less likely to die of all causes than those with lower levels. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with higher risks of heart disease and cancer.

However, most Americans are getting enough vitamin D from food (mainly fortified milk) and sunlight, and they don’t need to chug a vitamin D supplement. And there’s some concern that popping too many supplements could potentially cause harm.

“The science is just getting started on vitamin D,” said Dr. Bruce Holub, a professor of pediatrics and nutrition at the University of Guelph in Canada. He said that regular people could do four things to stay healthy: “get some sun, eat vitamin-D rich foods, don’t drink too much calcium, and get enough vitamin K.”

There’s still a lot we don’t know about vitamin D. Researchers have not figured out the best way to measure blood levels of it. It’s tough because there are many variations in diet, body size, age, and skin tone.

Vitamin D Supplements

NatureWise Vitamin D3 5000iu (125 mcg) is a non-GMO and gluten-free vitamin formulated with ingredients derived from natural sources. This supplement is specifically formulated to support healthy muscle function, bone health, and immune system functioning. Not only does this product maintain healthy levels of Vitamin D3, but it also includes several other vital nutrients necessary for optimal health.

Nature’s Bounty Vitamin D3 is part of the Vitamin D family. A nutrient that helps maintain strong bones, teeth, muscle function, and immune system health. Vitamin D3 is essential for proper calcium and phosphorus absorption, which is crucial for bone health. Vitamin D3 also supports immune health. It helps the body rid itself of harmful bacteria and viruses, promotes normal cell growth, and helps regulate the body’s inflammatory response to injury and infection.

The active ingredient in our revolutionary new product is 5000iu (125mcg) of Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is essential to the body’s natural calcium absorption and helps the body regulate many other systems, including the immune system. Vitamin D3 is non-GMO verified, gluten-free, and soy-free. For an additional immune boost, we also added coconut oil. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which helps strengthen the immune system by activating apoptosis in cells infected with bacteria and viruses.