Do you eat healthy, exercise regularly, and take a daily multi-vitamin? If so, good for you! You’re certainly doing a stand-up job at supporting the health and overall well-being of your body. However, even those with the healthiest habits might be missing out on a critical component for optimal wellness – vitamin D.
So what’s the big deal with vitamin D? There are actually a number of benefits that this particular vitamin offers your body, including:
- Stimulates new cell growth
- Boosts your immune system
- Lowers risk of diabetes
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Fights diseases
- Reduces blood pressure and cholesterol
- Aids in calcium absorption
Last, but certainly not least, vitamin D promotes strong and healthy bones. The reason for this is because essentially, vitamin D teams up with calcium and nourishes your body by increasing bone density. Together, these two nutrients are the keys to success when it comes to bone health.
The reason why bone health is so important is because it is something that affects everybody eventually. As we age, as gracefully as possible of course, certain changes are simply unavoidable. Obvious external changes will take place – wrinkles, gray hair, decreased height, skin spots, etc. – but less noticeable internal changes will also occur, such as weakened bones.
Even though our bodies are able to produce some vitamin D on their own, it is not a substantial amount. In order to maintain optimal bone density and strength, and prevent osteoporosis, you need to be conscious of your vitamin D intake.
Lucky for us, there are plenty of sources of vitamin D readily available to us. Use them all or pick your favorites to better your bones.
Sunshine
When your body absorbs sunlight through the skin, it produces vitamin D and then stores it for up to a month.
Seafood
Various kinds of fish and raw oysters are packed with high amounts of vitamin D.
Eggs
Another good source of vitamin D is eggs, with the yolk offering the most benefit. Caviar can be included in this category as well.
Fortified Foods
Certain food items are fortified with additional vitamins and minerals, which makes them an ideal choice. Read labels and look for fortified products.
Deli Meat
Ham and sausage are high in vitamin D, but they can also be high in fat content so these deli meats should be consumed in moderation.
Mushrooms
Vegetarians can obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D from mushrooms.
No matter how old you are, it’s never too early to fight bone loss. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that vitamin D is the most common type of deficiency. Give your body the TLC it deserves with hearty helpings of vitamin D, which makes bones efficient so you won’t be deficient.
Written by: Kaity Nakagoshi, Online Community Director
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About the Author
As the Online Community Director for Tenet Florida Physician Services, Kaity is able to connect with fellow health nuts and broaden her knowledge of a wide range of topics. Kaity was born and raised in sunny Florida, and obtained two bachelor’s degrees from the University of South Florida. Some of her favorite things are hot yoga, online shopping, Sunday brunch, college football, hair bows and headbands, playing golf, and FaceTiming with her niece.
