Vitamin D – Top 10 Benefits

Supplying your body with a diet rich in vitamins is essential because the body is unable to make most vitamins. We need vitamins to help us grow and to remain in good health, with many of them functioning as coenzymes, assisting in chemical reactions within the body. Vitamin D is one of the essential vitamins with multiple roles in the body, which we will talk about in this article. 

We can obtain vitamin D from food such as fish, cod liver oils, dairy products, fortified milk, cereals and eggs, yet most of the vitamin D we get is made by our bodies which is made from direct sunlight within the skin. However, vitamin D levels will eventually decrease as winter gets closer. Vegans are also more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency compared to individuals on other diets. Since it is difficult to get the right amount of vitamin D from food alone, the best way to boost your vitamin D intake is through supplements. Supplements generally come in two forms – vitamin D2 (synthetic form) or D3, with D3 being more effective at increasing vitamin D levels compared to vitamin D2.

There are many health benefits from taking vitamin D3, from supporting the immune system to promoting healthy bones and teeth, and many more. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 benefits of Vitamin D and what happens to the body when you do not get enough. 

1. Vitamin D for Teeth and Bones

A lack of vitamin D3 can impact the health and condition of your teeth and bones as it promotes absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D3 is essential for the formation and maintenance of teeth and bones as it plays a crucial role in maintaining good oral health and strengthens bones. 

2. Vitamin D Strengthens Muscles

In addition to its bone-strengthening abilities, vitamin D3 is also effective for strengthening muscles. A lack of vitamin D3 in the body can increase the risk of having weak muscles and muscle pain. This increases the risk of falls, especially for the elderly. Obtaining a healthy amount of vitamin D3 may help muscle strengthening to avoid potential disability and death in older adults.

3. Immune System

Vitamin D3 can help build immunity as it supports the immune system by fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses and influences immune function. There are two types of immune systems – the innate system (responsible for fighting infection) and the adaptive system (responsible for producing antibodies). Vitamin D3 balances the two systems.

4. Vitamin D Can Combat Depression

Vitamin D3 is also known as the sunshine vitamin for a positive/beneficial reason. It can help with low moods and affect the function of our two happiness neurotransmitters – dopamine and norepinephrine. Low levels of vitamin D3 have been linked to depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

5. Reduces Cancer Risk

Long-term studies have shown that sufficient levels of vitamin D3 taken with calcium can lower the risk of cancer. Vitamin D3 has been shown to have several effects that may slow or prevent the development of cancer cells and tumours, including decreasing cell growth, stimulating cell death, reducing tumour blood vessel formation and promoting cellular differentiation.

6. Healthy Pregnancy

Without a healthy level of vitamin D3, caesarean section, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes mellitus are more common. It is essential in pregnancy as it helps your baby’s teeth, bones, heart, kidneys and nervous system to develop. If you do not take vitamin D3 during pregnancy, there is a possibility that your child will have soft bones. This can lead to rickets, which is a disease that affects bone development in children.

7. Decreases Cardiovascular Disease

Low levels of vitamin D3 are linked to high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and heart disease as the vitamin may contribute to reducing plaque buildup associated with heart disease and can help restore the damage to the cardiovascular system caused by several diseases while also decreasing the risk of a heart attack.

8. Reduces Rheumatoid Arthritis 

Increased inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis have been associated with low levels of vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 has been found to balance inflammation by controlling pro-inflammatory cells. It is recommended to take vitamin D3 supplements to help prevent inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and to promote the healing of infections and inflammation.

9. Helps Prevent Diabetes 

Vitamin D3 may help prevent type 1 and type 2 diabetes as it helps improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin (a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels), therefore lessens the risk of insulin resistance, which usually leads to type 2 diabetes. There was a significant connection between lack of sunshine or vitamin D3 supplements with a high risk of type 2 diabetes. This was shown across a wide range of low vitamin D3 levels. 

10. Reduces fat

An essential rise in vitamin D3 can help lower cortisol levels (a stress hormone produced in the adrenal glands). Cortisol is involved in several vital functions, including the body’s response to stress and blood pressure regulation. Higher and further prolonged levels of the hormone in the blood can lead to significant abdominal or visceral fat, which is related to a variety of health conditions such as type 2 diabetes.​​ Vitamin D3 can also increase your body’s levels of the hormone leptin, which controls body fat storage and activates the sensation of satiety, which then lowers hunger levels.

Do you suffer from any of the issues above? Do you not get regular sun exposure, or does the food you consume daily not provide enough Vitamin D? 

Symptoms including fatigue, mood changes, bone or muscle weakness (osteomalacia) could be signs of vitamin D deficiency. A vitamin D3 supplement can be super beneficial to your health and everyday lifestyle.

Consuming D3 alongside calcium and vitamin K2 ensures that calcium is absorbed for maximum benefits. K2 is a rare vitamin that is often ignored but is actually important for regulating calcium deposition (promotes the hardening of bones, blood vessels and kidneys) and plays an important role in blood clotting, heart health and bone health. 

There are many vitamin D3 supplements on the market, but not all are created equal and of high quality. Livewell Naturals Vitamin D3 formula provides a unique, patented form of the naturally-derived vitamin K2 MK-7 (from fermented chickpeas). The vitamin D from our supplement is from natural lichen (a type of fungi that provides cholecalciferol). Both are 100% natural and plant-based without any nasty ingredients. The formula is also free from dairy, gluten, and GMOs.

Click here to buy yours today.