Are your worried that your 9-5 might be depriving yourself of your daily dose of sunshine? Or maybe you do not want to sit under the sun because of the risks of sunburn and developing skin cancer. Vitamin D is produced by your skin when exposed to sunlight. This fat-soluble vitamin is needed for the regulation of calcium and phosphorus in the body. It is also a key factor in bone health and your overall immunity. It plays a very important role in your body in its different forms, whether from sun exposure, foods fortified with the vitamin, or using supplements. Vitamin D dietary supplements come in two different forms: Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 supplements. Let’s talk about these two forms and how to choose which one is best for you.
Vitamin D3 Supplements
Vitamin D3 is produced when you expose your skin to the sun; hence it is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin”. It is an animal-sourced vitamin. You can get some vitamin D3 in your diet from consuming foods like egg yolk, fish oil, fatty fish like shrimp and sardines, and liver. The strength of vitamin D3 supplements is measured in international units (IU). All forms of Vitamin D3 can be purchased over the counter.
Vitamin D2 Supplements
Vitamin D2 is sourced from plants such as mushrooms and fortified foods such as milk, cereal, yogurt, and orange juice. Its strength is also measured in international units. While you can find lower strengths of the supplement in stores, the 50,000 IU capsules can only be obtained with a prescription. Vitamin D2, often just referred to as Vitamin D is cheaper to produce and is, therefore, more commonly fortified in foods.
Benefits of Vitamin D
Fighting diseases:
- It reduces the risk of multiple sclerosis
- Reduces risk of heart diseases
- Boosts your immunity against the flu
Vitamin D and depression: Research shows that vitamin D plays a role in keeping depression and anxiety away and regulating mood.
Adding vitamin D3 supplements to your diet could assist you in your weight-loss journey. A study was conducted where patients were given calcium and vitamin D supplements. Those given supplements lost more weight than those who were given placebo supplements.
Vitamin D deficiency
There are some things we do that could limit our ability to get the right amount of vitamin D in our bodies. Some of these things are in our control and adjusting them to favor vitamin D intake can help you live a healthier life:
- Using sunscreen
- Spending too much time indoors
- Hanging around areas with high pollution
- Having darker skin with higher melanin levels that inhibit vitamin D3 absorption
With these factors in mind, it is a great idea to get a sure source of vitamin D for your body. At Body by Nature, we provide you with the right dose of quality vitamin D3 supplements to ensure you are getting the right levels of the vitamin D in your body.