Vitamin D, also commonly referred to as calciferol, is a fat-soluble vitamin found in foods and used as a dietary supplement. Vitamin d can also be added to other foods. In addition to that, vitamin d is produced from direct sunlight when ultraviolet rays strike the skin. Calciferol available in foods, sunlight, and supplements are unreactive hence activated in the body through hydroxylations. The 1st hydroxylation takes place in the liver; vitamin d is changed to calcidiol or 25-hydroxyvitamin. Another hydroxylation takes place takes place in the kidney and forms calcitriol. Here are the uses of vitamin d.
1. Aids weight loss
Obesity has become the leading cause of other diseases like diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, and heart conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce body fat. Vitamin d helps to achieve a healthy weight. Study shows that people who take supplements of vitamin D are able to lose more weight. You should take vitamin d supplements if you want to lose weight at a fast rate. Scientists claim that the supplements suppress appetite.
2. Prevent heart diseases
Heart diseases cannot be cured, but we can prevent the condition. Evidence shows that normal blood pressure lowers the risk of heart diseases. Vitamin d helps to achieve normal blood pressure. Therefore, it lowers the risk of getting heart diseases.
3. Fights depression
Depression is a common cause of suicidal cases today. It affects a person’s life by triggering a feeling of sadness, anger, and loss. Depression affects the daily functioning of normal life. Study shows that vitamin d regulate mood hence reduces depression. Another research found out that people who are depressed suffer from vitamin d deficiency. You can take the supplements if you want to prevent depression.
4. Prevents flu
This is also known as influenza, is a respiratory infection that affects the lungs, throat, and nose. People who have flu feel chills. Vitamin d prevents respiratory infections by increasing levels of antimicrobial peptides. Moreover, the supplement reduces the duration of respiratory diseases such as influenza.
5. Boosts immunity
Supplements cannot treat diseases, but they can help to boost immunity. Vitamin d helps our body to stay balanced during infections. You should go outside often if you are living in a warm climate. Vitamin d exposure through sunlight rays is an easy way to boost immunity. You can consume foods rich in vitamin D such as cheese, fish, and fortified food. Vitamin d can also be found in supplements. Doctors recommend 400 IU.
6. Lowers risk of multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis can cause the immune system to attack the outer part of the nerves. This results in poor communication between the body and the brain. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of vision, fatigue, pain, and poor coordination. According to the American Medical jo Associaton, vitamin d lowers the risk of multiple sclerosis.
7. Promote healthy teeth
It can also help in the absorption of phosphate and calcium in teeth. It ensures the body has a balanced level of calcium and phosphorus. Henceforth, it lowers inflammation of gums caused by periodontal disease. Vitamin d deficiency may result in conditions such as weak teeth and gum diseases. These symptoms cannot be noticed by a patient seeing that it is not as painful as a toothache.
8. Promote healthy bones
Calcium and phosphorous are essential for healthy bones; vitamin d regulate and maintain correct levels of calcium and phosphorous in the blood. Enough supplements help the intestine to stimulate calcium. Lack of this vitamin in the body can result in the softening of bones in children. In a similar manner, vitamin d deficiency in adults results in weak muscles.
9. Pregnant mothers
Vitamin d deficiency is linked to various pregnancy conditions, such as bacterial vaginosis and gestational diabetes. Women who suffer from vitamin d deficiency are at risk of getting birth preterm and preeclampsia.
10. Healthy infants
Lack of vitamin d in the body is associated with high blood pressure in infants. One research shows that vitamin d deficiency causes artery walls of children to become stiff. Additionally, children with normal levels of vitamin d are less likely to experience allergies. For example, children who live near the equator have low rates of allergies.
11. Anti-inflammatory effects
Vitamin d contains the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids. As a result of this, it benefits patients with steroid-resistant asthma.
12. Support brain health
Vitamin d deficiency affects brain health. This can cause neurological conditions like schizophrenia. You can improve your brain health through sun-basking because the body produces vitamin d through sunlight exposure. Besides that, you can take supplements to boost brain health. Vitamin d serves as a neuroprotectant and develops the brain.
13. Regulate levels of insulin
Vitamin d is vital for normal levels of insulin. It lowers blood sugar in patients who have type 2 diabetes. It also improves sensitivity to people who have prediabetes. Diabetic patients are advised to take 1000 to 2000IUs daily in order to be safe.
14. Kidney diseases
A healthy kidney is linked to vitamin d. chronic diseases mean that the body has low levels of vitamin d. the body itself cannot activate vitamin d without the help of an organ. The kidney helps to turn vitamin d into an active form. This activation helps to balance phosphorus and calcium inside the body. It also controls minerals and parathyroid hormone.
15. Strengthen muscles
Besides strengthening bones and teeth, vitamin d is essential for strong muscles. Vitamin d deficiency causes weak muscles; hence falls become rampant. Older people who have weak bones tend to fall more often. Falls can result in disability or death, especially on slippery floors.
16. Treat high blood pressure
High blood pressure occurs when levels of blood pressure increase to abnormal levels. Hypertension can stay in the body for years without showing signs. However, it damages your heart and can increase health problems like stroke and heart attack. According to research, a low level of vitamin d can affect blood pressure. Vitamin d supplements can be used to treat high blood pressure.
17. Reduce cancer risk
The most common human cancer include breast, pancreatic, prostate, and colorectal. Studies show that vitamin d can fight cancer. Another study found that people who live in southern latitude recorded a low rate of cancer death rates. On the other hand, northern latitude had high cancer death rates because of minimum sunlight exposure.
