Vitamin D – The sunshine vitamin
In light of recent COVID-19 events that are happening in our world today, it is important that we all work on our immune system to protect us from illness.
One of the very important vitamins that can help our immune system is vitamin D. Contrary to its name, it is not a vitamin but a hormone that is synthesized by sunlight and is responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and many other biological effects that boost the immune system. It helps assist in supporting lung function and cardiovascular health, the immune system, brain and nervous system health, helps regulate insulin levels and promote healthy bones and teeth.
Vitamin D is also called “the sunshine vitamin” because part of its production process starts with a chemical reaction that happens in your skin in response to sunlight. You can also get it through certain foods and supplements to ensure adequate amounts of the vitamin in your blood.
What happens when you don’t get enough vitamin D?
Individuals can become deficient in vitamin D if they do not consume or absorb the right amount of vitamin D that is required for the body. In children, vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, a condition in which the bones become soft and bend. In adults, vitamin D deficiency leads to osteomalacia, causing bone pain and muscle weakness.
Did you know that mushrooms are one source for vitamin D that can naturally multiply their levels by exposing them to sunlight? The sunlight falling on a mushroom turns it into a vitamin D factory! This is particularly a good and tasty way to get your dosage of vitamin D if you don’t like to swallow pills, or if you prefer the natural route.
In conclusion, you can boost the level of vitamin D in your body by consuming vitamin D supplements, or certain vitamin-D rich foods, or sunbathed mushrooms. Sufficient amounts of vitamin D will help your overall health and improve resistance against certain diseases.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-high-in-vitamin-d#7
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2018/05/10/boost-your-vitamin-d-levels-bathing-mushrooms-sunlight-eating
