What if I told you that in today’s society you are slowly being directed in a way that is detrimental to your health. Your children and even your grandchildren will rapidly be affected by the restructuring of their daily lives that will leave them deprived of one of the most critical components in keeping their bodies healthy. In this technological advanced society, we are crippling our body’s ability to create this simple but necessary component that we take for granted every day. It is no coincidence that our largest organ has been tasked with creating this vitamin. Do you know what it is? If you said Vitamin D you are correct. How do we address this Vitamin D deficiency?
According to experts, up to 75 percent of Americans don’t get enough Vitamin D each day. Our busy lives and the technology that beckons our attention indoors only contributes to the Vitamin D deficiency. Simply put, even if we spend most of our time outdoors most of us still will not create enough Vitamin D to support optimal levels in our blood. That is why we must take steps to correct Vitamin D deficiency that so many people have. A great way to avoid Vitamin D deficiency is to start off by having your doctor test Vitamin D levels twice a year. That should give you a good starting point and follow up with supplementing with 250 mcg (10,000 IU) daily, more if recommended by your doctor. Finally, spend time outside in the sun. At least 15 minutes in full sun with no sunscreen and minimal skin cover. Remember not to overdo it with exposure to the sun as everyone has different tolerances to their skin burning and in general over heating in hot summer months.
Now that we have a good general understanding of the steps to take to attain good levels of Vitamin D, let’s discuss, Why? For one, there is no risk of getting too much. You can’t overdose on Vitamin D. In fact, our bodies have an off switch when using Vitamin D. It’s a biological mechanism that says ‘I have enough for now and the rest will be stored away for later use’. That’s right, Vitamin D is fat-soluble and your body stores excess Vitamin D so that when our attention is preoccupied with indoor activities such as electronics or maybe even a week of overcast and rain, our bodies can have this vital component that reinforces our immune response to fight off unwanted illness.
Vitamin D plays such an integral part at readying our bodies to fight against colds, viruses and just about all chronic illnesses. Recently the Corona Virus has swept through the world impacting nearly all cities and towns. One of the biggest worries with Corona Virus is the impact it can have on one’s respiratory system. Research has found that people who took daily doses of just 10 mcg (400 IU) to 25 mcg (1,000 IU) of Vitamin D had a 42 percent lower risk of getting an acute respiratory infection. Vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with rickets, a disease in which the bone tissue doesn’t properly mineralize, which can lead to soft bones and skeletal deformities. Although research is revealing the importance of Vitamin D in protecting against a host of health problems.
Preparing our bodies in advance can be extremely beneficial when dealing with illnesses as common as colds and for novel viruses alike. Vitamin D continues to be a champion for our bodies at every obstacle our bodies are tasked to endure. Be proactive and avoid Vitamin D deficiency by getting the knowledge and tools to live a healthy life and allow your immune system the best opportunity in providing you the best outcome when fighting everyday illnesses.
By: Life Priority Blog contributor. P. Smith