subject: Why Is It Important To Maintain Vitamin D In Your Body [print this page] The risks of vitamin D deficiency can lead to health problems that can easily be avoided by employing proper eating habits. This may be difficult for those who suffer from certain medical conditions such as lactose intolerance, or those who eat a rigid vegetarian diet.
However, you can receive a daily dose of this nutrient from sunshine.
This vitamin is also known as the sunshine vitamin because just ten minutes a day in the sun can give your body the vitamin D it needs. You can also get the vitamin from foods such as eggs, fish and dairy.
When taken in conjunction with calcium, strong bones are the result. When insufficient levels of vitamin D exists in the body. the development of rickets can occur. Rickets is a disease of the bone tissue due to poor mineralization, causing the bones become soft and malformed.
What are the symptoms?
Muscle weakness and bone pain are often symptoms of this deficiency while some people will have no symptoms whatsoever. Only blood testing will give you a definitive answer.
Health risks:
Risk of developing cardiovascular disease is greater in those with vitamin D deficiency. Other risks are:
- Memory and attention deficits
- Exacerbates asthma symptoms in children
- Greater risk of cancer developing.
Current research reveals this essential nutrient may be instrumental in treating and preventing the following conditions:
Diabetes, glucose intolerance, high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis.
Causes:
Vitamin D is largely available from animal sources, such as fish oils, egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver. Another great source for this nutrient is sunshine. Deficiencies can result from:
- Strict vegetarian diet.
- Skin with dark pigmentation preventing production in the skin.
- Kidneys unable to convert this vitamin into it's active form.
- Poor absorption in the intestines.
- Obesity.
Low levels can be diagnosed by the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test. Normal levels are 30.0 to 74.0 nanograms per milliliter. Levels below 30.0 are considered to be deficient. Treatment involves dietary supplementation and exposure to sunlight.
While there are no general rules on the recommended daily requirements, it most likely is dependent on age and health condition. You can get the amount you need by eating a well balanced nutritional diet and getting outside to enjoy ten minutes of sunshine.
Even though the sun can cause damage to your skin, depression can occur where sunlight is avoided altogether, therefore a balance must be found.
If you have any of the risks for vitamin D deficiency, consult with your health care professional about testing and dietary supplementation.
