Are You Vitamin D Deficient?
Learn about the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and how to correct it.
Vitamin D is an extremely important nutrient. Our bodies need it to absorb calcium and phosphorous, so without healthy vitamin D you can’t have healthy teeth and bones. Vitamin D also plays an important role in immune function and insulin production. Low levels of vitamin D have also been linked to many other serious health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon, breast, and prostate cancer.
Possible Reasons You Could Be Lacking in Vitamin D
Unfortunately, the average American does not get enough vitamin D. Here are some possible indications that you may be likely to be low on vitamin D:
You Have Dark Skin: The body cannot synthesize vitamin D without exposure to sunlight. The additional pigment in dark skin acts as a natural sunscreen, meaning darker-skinned individuals need extra time in the sun to get their vitamin D.
You’re Over 50: Since skin’s ability to make vitamin D declines with age, and older adults often spend more time indoors, individuals over 50 are even less likely to get enough vitamin D from sunlight. Plus, kidney function can also decline with age, meaning you will have more trouble converting the vitamin D you do get into the form used by your body.
You’re Overweight: Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it can collect in body fat. The more body fat you have, the more vitamin D you will need in your system to ensure enough of the vitamin is available for important biological processes.
You Have a Digestive Issue: If you have a digestive problem that affects your ability to absorb fat, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or IBS, this will affect your ability to absorb vitamin D as well.
Best Ways to Boost Vitamin D
If you suspect you are low on vitamin D, you may want to get your levels tested by a doctor. Then, you can focus on getting your vitamin D back up to an optimal level. Here’s how to do it:
Get More Sun: The simplest way to boost vitamin D is to get outside more. As a general guideline you should stay out in strong sun for about half the time it would take you to get a sunburn. For fair-skinned people this would be about 15 minutes.
Eat Foods High In Vitamin D: The best dietary sources of vitamin D include oily fish like sardines and salmon; dark greens like bok choy and kale; and dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese. Vitamin D can also be found in fortified foods like cereal and orange juice.
Take a D3 Supplement: For the most dramatic gains in your vitamin D levels, you will want to take a supplement. Be sure your supplement contains D3, which is the form of vitamin D your body can use immediately. Renew Youth’s™ ADK formula, which contains 5,000 IU of D3, is an excellent choice for your vitamin D supplement.
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If you have questions about vitamin D or other nutritional needs that can change with age, please contact us at 800-859-7511.
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