You Might Need Some Vitamin D!

Vitamin D is a compound that is essential in our body but many of us aren’t getting enough! It’s crazy to think that 80% of us have vitamin D levels that are lower than recommended. Read below to find out why our bodies need vitamin D, how much we need, and how to get more!

Why your body needs vitamin D:

Every tissue and cell in the body has vitamin D receptors, which makes it crucial for maintaining many of the body’s physiological functions.

• Maintains bone health (helps absorb calcium)

  • Deficiency can lead to a loss in bone density

• Lowers your risk of heart disease

  • Decrease in C Reactive Protein (CRP)

• Immune system health

  • With low levels of vitamin D, the microglia (the immune cells of the central nervous system that initiate temporary inflammatory responses to attack foreign invading organisms) are unable to function optimally

How much vitamin D is enough?

Since vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is possible to consume too much!

• The Institutes of Medicine (IOM) recommends daily intake of up to 600 IUs per day.

• Have your doctor order a “Vit. D 25-OH-D” test to measure your serum levels to accurately determine if you have adequate levels of vitamin D in your body

  • Serum levels are considered normal in the 30-100ng/ml range, but for optimal health maintaining a level of 50-60ng/ml is ideal.

How to get more vitamin D

You can get vitamin D in more ways than one!

• Exposure to sunlight

  • Vitamin D3 is produced when bare skin is exposed to UV rays.

  • Experts say that 5- 10 minutes per day outside without sunscreen, two to three times a week, can help you maintain adequate levels.

• Food Sources

  • Fatty fish

    • Tuna, salmon, sardines, and mackerel

  • Eggs

  • Liver

• Nutritional Supplements

  • This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain adequate levels in your body

  • Talk to your doctor about the dosage that is right for you to make sure you don’t end up taking too much!

Namaste,
NuPowerYoga Team