From strengthening your bones and teeth to boosting your immune system, vitamin D provides the body with a variety of incredible health benefits. In addition to the benefits that this fat-soluble vitamin provides on its own, it also helps with the absorption of other vital nutrients like calcium and phosphorous. Although vitamin D offers an abundance of wellness benefits, many of us still don‚t get enough of this nutrient. On average, around 50% of the world‚s population struggles with vitamin D deficiency. Not consuming enough of this vitamin can lead to negative effects like body aches, fatigue, and a weakened immune system. If you‚re interested in learning more about vitamin D and its impact on your overall wellness, keep reading. We‚ll go over everything you need to know about this beneficial vitamin.

What is Vitamin D and Where Does It Come From?

Vitamin D, also known as ‚the sunshine vitamin,‚ is naturally produced by the human body whenever the skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is often referred to as a single nutrient, but the vitamin D family actually consists of three compounds--vitamin D1, vitamin D2, and vitamin D3. The human body only absorbs vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D2 comes from plant-based sources, while vitamin D3 comes from animal-based sources. Since vitamin D3 most closely resembles the vitamin D that the body naturally creates, it‚s the best form of vitamin D to use as a nutritional supplement.

Vitamin D3‚s Health Benefits

Although this form of vitamin D is uncommon in food sources, there are a variety of cereals, dairy products, fruit juices, and other foods that are fortified with vitamin D3. You can also choose to add a supplemental vitamin D3 tabletto your daily wellness routine. Here are five ways that adding increasing your vitamin D intake can impact your overall health and wellness:

1. Vitamin D3 Strengthens Your Immune System

Illness is the opposite of wellness. That's why getting enough immune-boosting nutrients into your diet is a must. Vitamin D3 strengthens the innate immune system by activating peptides and initiating an anti-microbial response. Inadequate vitamin D levels have also been linked to an increased risk of developing autoimmune conditions.

2. Vitamin D3 Helps You Maintain Healthy Bones

Maintaining a healthy skeletal system is a must for physical wellness. Vitamin D3 works with calcium and phosphorous to keep your bones growing strong. Deficiencies in this vital nutrient have been linked to an increased risk of bone-related injuries and osteoporosis.

3. Vitamin D3 Protects Your Skin

The skin is the body‚s largest organ, so maintaining its health should be a part of everyone‚s personal wellness goals. This nutrient helps with skin cell repair and rejuvenation, and vitamin D deficiency may contribute to skin issues like bacterial and inflammatory acne.

4. Vitamin D3 Can Improve Your Mood and Brain Function

Getting enough Vitamin D3 is also important for your mental and emotional health. Studies have linked low vitamin D levels with issues like depression, anxiety, and reduced cognitive function. In addition to boosting your mood, getting adequate amounts of vitamin D3 may also lower your risk for developing dementia. A2012 studyfound that those with low vitamin D levels were four times as likely to develop memory loss and dementia.

5. Vitamin D3 Promotes Healthy Weight Maintenance

If one of your current wellness goals involves maintaining a healthy weight, then taking a vitamin D3 supplement can give your efforts a boost. A studyconducted by the British Journal of Nutrition found that participants who consumed daily vitamin D and calcium supplements lost more weight than participants who took a placebo tablet.

A Final Word on Vitamin D3

If you‚d like to add more vitamin D to your daily diet, then taking a vitamin D3 supplement may be a great option for you. Vibrant Health‚s Vitamin D3supplemental tablets are organic, non-GMO, and dairy-, soy-, and gluten-free! Sources: Holick, M. F. (2006). The role of vitamin D for bone health and fracture prevention. Current Osteoporosis Reports, 4(3), 96-102. Jorde, R., Sneve, M., Figenschau, Y., Svartberg, J., & Waterloo, K. (2008). Effects of vitamin D supplementation on symptoms of depression in overweight and obese subjects: Randomized double blind trial. Journal of Internal Medicine, 264(6), 599-609. Lim, S. K., Ha, J. M., Lee, Y. H., Lee, Y., Seo, Y. J., Kim, C. D., ‚ Im, M. (2016). Comparison of Vitamin D Levels in Patients with and without Acne: A Case-Control Study Combined with a Randomized Controlled Trial. PloS one, 11(8), e0161162. Major, G. C., Alarie, F. P., Dor©, J., & Tremblay, A. (2008). Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and fat mass loss in female very low-calcium consumers: Potential link with a calcium-specific appetite control. British Journal of Nutrition, 101(5), 659-663. Soni, M., Kos, K., Lang, I. A., Jones, K., Melzer, D., & Llewellyn, D. J. (2012). Vitamin D and cognitive function. Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl, 243, 79-82. DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a competent health care professional. You should not use this information in diagnosing or treating a health problem. No claim or opinion in this blog is intended to be, nor should be construed to be, medical advice. If you are now taking any drugs, prescribed or not, or have a medical condition, please consult a competent physician who is aware of herb/drug interactions before taking any herbal supplements. The information presented herein has not been evaluated by the FDA or the Department of Health and is not intended to diagnose, prevent, cure, mitigate or treat any disease or illness.