Yes – all of those three things ARE related! You also need to know why!
It has been found, that (along with other vitamins in high doses,) VITAMIN D is a big determinant of whether you get over COVID-19, or not. Not many people realise that there are various forms of Vitamin D –Â but best of all – we can make our own Vitamin D!
The pigment which is in our skin called Melatonin, causes, with exposure to sunlight, our skin to brown – as a protective measure against the sun’s radiation. It also makes one form of Vitamin D at the same time. 🙂
Here is my thought for the day:
Vitamin D has a number of important uses in the body.
It is vitally important for us to grow and maintain our bone strength along with other minerals – Calcium, Magnesium, Boron amongst others. It is also in our teeth. If there is a lack of this vitamin you get brittle bones, especially in the elderly, which fracture easily. The shock of this can cause death.
Vitamin D allows the intestines to stimulate and absorb calcium and reclaim calcium that the kidneys would otherwise excrete. Without enough calcium ions in the blood – you cannot use your muscles properly – they get weak (as well as the bone effects – see above) and can lead to various muscle problems like fibromyalgia. So without VItamin D to help this process people get malnourished and sick.
It is part of the immune system and helps to reduce your likelihood of developing the flu, according to 2010 research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Research has shown that vitamin D might play an important role in regulating mood and warding off depression. In one study, scientists found that people with depression who received vitamin D supplements noticed an improvement in their symptoms.
In one study, people taking a daily calcium and vitamin D supplement were able to lose more weight than subjects taking a placebo supplement. The scientists said the extra calcium and vitamin D had an appetite-suppressing effect.
When the muscles are unable to work properly – you get tired – muscularly tired. This means your movement muscles fatigue, your heart muscles fatigue (and can lead to heart attacks), your gut muscles fatigue – and your digestion becomes sluggish. You feel mentally tired too!
In short – Vitamin D is a VERY important aspect of our nutrition.
How much Vitamin D do I need each day?
IUs are a standard type of measurement for drugs and vitamins. IUs help experts determine recommended dose, toxicity, and deficiency levels for each person.
One IU is not the same for each type of vitamin. An IU is determined by how much of a substance produces an effect in your body. The recommended IUs for vitamin D are:
- children and teens: 600 IU
- adults up to age 70: 600 IU
- adults over age 70: 800 IU
- pregnant or breastfeeding women: 600 IU
You can get Vitamin D as a supplement but always look for the D3 form not the D2 form. Get the best quality that you can afford too. Price really does matter for these things.
I hope this has helped? If it has – let me know. Thanks.
Now enjoy that sunshine!
Gayle Palmer
© Great Guidelines for Later Life 2020
