Vitamin D benefits are sometimes simplified to one thing—improving mood. But the reality is that there are a lot of benefits of vitamin D3, and nearly half of American adults have a vitamin D deficiency. Let’s spend some time talking about what vitamin D is, why it’s so important, and how you can make sure you’re getting enough.
What Is Vitamin D?
Did you know that more than 40% of adults in the U.S. have a vitamin D deficiency? And the thing is, most of those people probably don’t even realize they’re low on the vitamin. A vitamin D deficiency can result in some bad side effects, but an overdose can also have negative consequences, although it’s much less common to have too much vitamin D.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. That means it is absorbed along with fats in the diet. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body’s tissues and aren’t depleted as quickly as water-soluble vitamins are. The liver and kidneys convert vitamin D into an active hormone that is used to regulate calcium absorption. Without vitamin D, we wouldn’t have strong bones.
If you think you may have a vitamin D deficiency, you’ll want to look for one or more of these symptoms:
- Getting sick often
- Fatigue
- Bone and back pain
- Depression
- Slow wound healing
- Loss of bone density
- Hair loss
- Muscle weakness
A vitamin D deficiency is usually easy to remedy, but if you’re experiencing these symptoms, and suspect you might have one, you’ll want to check with your doctor and get a blood test done to make sure.
On the other hand, symptoms of a vitamin D overdose include weakness, nausea, vomiting, and poor appetite. Again, while it’s possible to overdose on vitamin D, it is very rare. Vitamin D deficiencies are far more common.
Are Vitamin D and Vitamin D3 The Same Thing?
Sometimes people refer to vitamin D, and sometimes they call it vitamin D3. It begs the question, is there a difference between vitamin D and vitamin D3? The truth is, you won’t find a vitamin D supplement in the store. It’s an umbrella term that includes vitamin D2 and vitamin D3.
The difference between vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 is that D2 comes mainly from plant sources like wild mushrooms or milk and cereal that is fortified with vitamins. D3 comes mainly from animal sources like fish, liver, and eggs. Vitamin D3 is also what your skin makes when it is exposed to sunlight, but we’ll talk more about that later.
Benefits of Vitamin D
There are a lot of benefits of vitamin D3 and D2. In fact, the vitamin D benefits extend to your health AND your wellbeing. A few of them include:
Bone Health
Vitamin D is a key nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Both of these minerals are vital to bone health. When your bones are weak, you are more susceptible to breaks, and eventually osteoporosis.
Immune System Support
When you feel a cold coming on, your natural response may be to reach for vitamin C to build your immune system. Vitamin C is the more well-known of the immunity-boosting vitamins, but we shouldn’t discount all the good vitamin D does. Your white blood cells (those are the ones that fight infections) are equipped with vitamin D receptors. That means they need vitamin D to function properly and keep the doctor away.
Improved Mood
It sounds a little silly, but does vitamin D make you happier? It actually does. An improved mood is another one of the vitamin D benefits. One reason is that vitamin D activates the gene that tryptophan to serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is also known as the body’s “happy chemical.” The mental and emotional benefits of vitamin D are just as potent as the physical benefits.
Energy
Studies have shown that people who had low levels of vitamin D showed significant improvement in their energy when their vitamin D deficiency was corrected. A major symptom of a vitamin D deficiency is fatigue and tiredness. Correcting this is as easy as upping vitamin D intake levels. What would you do if you had more energy to do it?
Fights Disease
Vitamin D is believed to help protect against illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, infections, and immune disorders, multiple sclerosis, and some types of cancer, like colon, prostate, and breast.
Aids In Weight Loss
Can vitamin D help you lose weight, and if so, how much vitamin D to lose weight? The link between vitamin D and weight loss has been studied. The conclusion has generally been that those taking vitamin D lost more weight than their counterparts who were taking a placebo. This has led many scientists to believe there is a connection between vitamin D and losing weight. You don’t need to take an excessive amount to get your vitamin D benefits. You just need to make sure you’re meeting your daily requirements.
Memory And Recall
Cognitive tests have shown that people with low vitamin D levels perform worse on memory, executive function, and attention and processing speed tests than people who have optimal vitamin D levels.
Sources of Vitamin D
We already know that vitamin D benefits general health and well-being, so let’s talk about how to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D to reap the benefits. Knowing the sources of vitamin D can help you track your consumption. Experts recommend incorporating various sources of vitamin D into your daily routine to be sure you’re getting enough.
Sunshine
One of the easiest ways to get vitamin D is to simply go outside. The World Health Organization (WHO) says “5 to 15 minutes of casual sun exposure of hands, face and arms two to three times a week during the summer months is sufficient to keep your vitamin D levels high.” It is important that you don’t wear sunscreen for the first 10 minutes you are outdoors, as it blocks the rays your body needs to create vitamin D. Once you have been outside for 10 minutes, we recommend putting on sunscreen so your skin is protected for the rest of your time outdoors.
Supplements
In the winter, or if you live in a climate that doesn’t get as much sun, you can take vitamin D supplements to ensure you’re getting your daily allotment. Most pharmacies and health food stores sell vitamin D supplements over the counter. If you are severely deficient, your doctor may even order a prescription-strength supplement. Xyngular Prime is also a good source of vitamin D. Plus, it has the added benefit of additional vitamins and minerals to help fill in additional nutrient gaps.
Diet
Certain foods are also a good source of vitamin D. Fatty fish, beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks are all good natural sources of this crucial vitamin. Many foods like milk, cereal, orange juice, and more are fortified with vitamin D now. You can read the labels to see how much vitamin D is in the things you eat.
Axion: Your Xyngular Source For Vitamin D
You can get a lot of health benefits from Vitamin D. From boosting mood and energy levels, to support your immune system and bone health, it supports many critical body systems. Vitamin D deficiency is common and can lead to many health issues, like sickness, weakened bones, fatigue, and more. The good news is that a vitamin D deficiency is easily remedied by getting outside a little bit every day, eating a balanced diet, or taking a nutritional supplement like Xyngular Axion. Axion also helps promote good gut health, which helps your body absorb and use all of the vitamins you’re putting into your body. If you’re ready to give it a try, log into your Xyngular account, or give us a call at 801-610-4580.*
Get Your Vitamin D Boost NOW! Order Axion by contacting your Xyngular distributor or by logging in to your Xyngular account today!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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