Vitamin D is another fat-soluble vitamin that is essential to the diet. Like Vitamin A, Vitamin D is not active in the body in its natural state. This vitamin must go through two processes before it is of any use to our bodies – the first happens in the liver and the second happens in the kidneys.
We always hear that Calcium builds strong bones, but here’s a little known fact: Vitamin D is the reason why Calcium is absorbed in the bones! Vitamin D is crucial for bone growth and remodeling. Without it, our bones would be weak, brittle, and easily broken. Along with building bones, Vitamin D is responsible for maintaining a healthy level of Calcium and Phosphate in the blood, which is really important for bone mineralization. Vitamin D and Calcium work together to promote strong, healthy bones and protect us from conditions like osteoporosis. In addition to being vital for cell growth and maturation, other functions of Vitamin D include improving our immune systems, decreasing the risk of inflammation in the body, and improving insulin sensitivity (meaning it will help to lower blood sugar).
Now that you know how important Vitamin D is and why, let’s look into some reasons that deficiency is so common.
- Vitamin D is very rarely found naturally in foods! Most foods must be fortified with Vitamin D, meaning that food manufacturers have to add it to our food before it’s packaged and placed on the shelves at our favorite grocery stores. Although Vitamin D is not widely available, there are a few foods that are considered great sources for it, including fish liver oils, fatty fish, dairy, mushrooms, and eggs.
- The best source of Vitamin D is not found in food at all. It comes from the UV rays that are emitted by the sun. Those of us with a darker skin pigmentation have a harder time absorbing the rays than our lighter-pigmented counterparts. Additionally, living in an area that does not get consistent sun exposure puts us at risk for deficiency as well. Getting about 10-15 minutes of exposure to the sun is a good way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D.
- Vitamin D levels in breast milk are directly related to the mother’s Vitamin D status. This means that if the mom is low in the vitamin, her milk will hold insufficient amounts, and vice versa. Maintaining adequate levels of Vitamin D in pregnant and lactating women will decrease an infant’s risk of deficiency.
- When an individual undergoes gastric bypass surgery, the upper part of the small intestine is no longer in use. Unfortunately, the upper small intestine is where Vitamin D is absorbed, so these individuals must supplement with the active form of the vitamin.
- Vitamin D absorption is dependent upon the body’s ability to utilize fat. If a person has difficulty absorbing fat due to a medical condition, they are at increased risk of deficiency. Fat malabsorption is most common in those with some type of gut inflammation, including those with Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, Diverticulitis, Cystic Fibrosis, or Liver Disease.
As you can see, Vitamin D is a crucial factor when it comes to improving or maintaining our health, and there are several groups of us who are at risk for deficiency. To learn more about additional roles of Vitamin D, the risks of deficiency, recommended amounts, and supplementation, click here for my free educational download!
If you are at risk for Vitamin D deficiency, schedule a consultation with me so that we can take a look at your habits and make some adjustments!
Kwynntessential Solutions 