All of you are probably aware that vitamins can be quite beneficial, especially when consumed correctly. And while vitamin C is one of the most popular supplements to take, it’s important that you don’t neglect the other vitamins that your body needs.
When it comes to vitamins, there are very few who carry as many health benefits as vitamin D. Now, if you aren’t aware of the effects of this vitamin on your body, then we’ve got just the thing for you. Here’s a list of four vitamin D health benefits that you need to know about!
It Strengthens Your Bones
What many people fail to understand about vitamin D is that it actually helps build strong and healthy bones. The reason for this is quite simple: the vitamin in question helps your intestines absorb calcium from the food that you eat. Now, unlike other nutrients, calcium can only be derived from the food that we eat, which can be troublesome if you aren’t eating a proper diet. This is why it can help strengthen your bones and ensure that they are dense and sturdy. Vitamin D has such a positive effect on bones that doctors highlight how important it is when it comes to preventing bone disease, such as osteoporosis.
It Promotes a Healthy Pregnancy
Aside from being a helpful supplement for people’s everyday lives, vitamin D is also an important prenatal vitamin. This is because it has been linked with the reduced occurrences of pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. To add to this, there have also been studies that have linked the mother’s vitamin D levels during pregnancy to the child’s IQ. The studies suggest that higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy may actually lead to greater childhood IQ scores.
It Supports Your Immune System
One point that isn’t commonly discussed is how important vitamin D is when it comes to maintaining a healthy immune system. Research shows that its deficiency actually increases a person’s susceptibility to infections. This is because one of the main functions of vitamin D is its ability to help activate the body’s T cells. Essentially, T cells detect and destroy foreign pathogens in your body.
It Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Vitamin D can also be a significant help when it comes to reducing your risk of cancer. In fact, research has shown that vitamin D helps prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading. Now, do note that the people that the researchers observed were given high doses of vitamin D, meaning that you have to maintain higher levels to really see the effects. And while this may sound troublesome, it’s actually not that difficult. The researchers recommend that adults get 2,000 international units of vitamin D per day. This is around 50 micrograms, which is the tolerable upper intake level set by the government.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has helped shed some light on the importance of vitamin D for your overall well-being. Now, one important thing that you have to take note of is that taking vitamins can only get you so far. To be at your healthiest, it’s important that you visit your physician regularly.
If you are seeking a primary care doctor in North Bergen and Secaucus, NJ, reach out to Garden State Medical Group. Our board-certified physicians and specialists will help you stay healthy by diagnosing and treating common diseases and conditions in adults. We also consider treating the whole person, including your biological, behavioral, and clinical aspects. Start a telemedicine call today!