I love the golden sun. Something about its rays makes me feel centered. I grew up on an island and I am a sun lover. Living in the tropics allowed me to take advantage of so many natural resources. However, I have started exploring and researching more about Vitamin D which was abundantly available on my island home. Here is what I learned.
- Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because it is produced in your skin in response to sunlight.
- Vitamin D is fat soluble.
- Vitamin D regulates our metabolism of calcium and phosphorus.
- Vitamin D is helpful for a robust immune response.
- Vitamin D is helps our bone health and decreases your chances of developing heart disease.
- Vitamin D helps boost cognition and reduces depression.
Vitamin D deficiency risk factors in adults:
- People who have darker skin.
- People who get limited exposure to sunlight. People who work 12 hour shifts inside.
- People who have difficulty absorbing dietary fat (because of conditions such as colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cystic fibrosis).
- People with dietary restrictions, such as veganism, milk-allergic, ovo-vegetarian, and lactose-intolerance.
- People who are obese (with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30).
- People with kidney disease, including kidney transplant recipients.
- People who take medicines called glucocorticoids.
- People who live in northern states. This is especially true during winter months. The farther south you live, the easier it is to get your vitamin D from sun exposure all year round.
https://familydoctor.org/vitamin-d/#:~:text=Vitamin%20D%20deficiency%20can%20delay,of%20bone%20fractures%20and%20falls.
Author
Zoe Stallings, MD
Dr. Stallings is the owner/operator of the MUST Clinic, PLLC. She is constantly studying and loves to write. She enjoys social media as a means of communication with her patients. She has also been featured on podcasts and local news segments. Her hobbies include reading, writing and cooking.
