Avoiding Vitamin D Deficiency

How important is avoiding Vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D or the “sunshine vitamin” is very important in our bodies, it helps to regulate inflammation and increase our immune system. Elevating the levels of vitamin D in our general population could help to prevent many common chronic diseases.

Vitamin D helps to fight infections like the common cold and flu. It does this by affecting the expression of genes that influence your immune system and attacking the bacteria or virus.

Many people report feeling tired and achy when they are deficient in vitamin D. Many people showing these symptoms are misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. These are classic signs of Vitamin D deficient osteomalacia. To counter this supplementation of diet with Vitamin D and calcium is advised.

The latest research now shows that 50 percent of the general population is at risk of Vitamin D deficiency. This percentage increase in the elderly and school aged children to 70 percent.

There is a smartphone app you can use called “Dminder” this estimated how much UV radiation you’re getting in the different parts of the world and how many units of Vitamin D you are making.

The current literature, based on the study of healthy populations that get plenty of natural sun exposure, shows that the optimal range of Vitamin D for health is between 50 and 70 ng/ml.

While sun exposure is the main way for your body to make vitamin D, there are also some food sources, these include egg and liver.