Vitamin D Health Benefits – What Can Vitamin D Do For You?

Vitamin D health benefits seem to continuously be discovered, lending even more reason to attain the vitamin every day. Just last week we shed just a little light on the relationship between vitamin D and cancer, answering the question: can blood tests detect cancer? But, did you know this nutrient can actually “activate” the immune system, helping to fight off infection from both bacteria and viruses too?

Vitamin D Health Benefits

Vitamin D could be called “nature’s antibiotic,” and with all of the side effects of prescription antibiotics, a natural source of immune protection should be welcomed with open arms.

The problem is that scientists estimate 70% of the U.S. population is deficient in Vitamin D. Adrian Gombart of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University calls this widespread deficiency, “a critical issue as we learn more about the many roles it may play in fighting infection, balancing your immune response, helping to address autoimmune problems, and even preventing heart disease.”

His report found that this problem isn’t unique to the United States, but is a worldwide issue, with nearly one billion people around the world deficient in Vitamin D.

So what all does Vitamin D do and why should we be sure to get enough of it? Vitamin D health benefits truly seem to cease to be discovered, with the primary benefit being an overall powerful positive effect on your immune system. It helps fight off infections and can help control diseases of the immune system like psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and even multiple sclerosis.

Some studies have shown a link between a lack of Vitamin D and the rates of influenza and respiratory infection, leading some scientists to surmise that large scale deficiency could be the cause of flu epidemics.

Vitamin D  benefits also include:

• Lower infection rates and prolonged life of dialysis patients.
• Vitamin D one of the many fantastic home remedies for high blood pressure.
• Reduced inflammation.
• Help with weight loss. Believe it or not, there is actually a potential connection between vitamin D and weight loss.

So what can you to attain vitamin D and experience all of the Vitamin D health benefits? Get some sun! You don’t need to roast away the afternoon under a hot sun, but a morning walk can increase your Vitamin D levels exponentially.

It isn’t found at high levels in many foods, but here is a list of those that naturally include Vitamin D. Those foods with the highest amounts include wild catfish, herring, and cod liver oil. You can also take a supplement. Most multivitamins contain some vitamin D, but it a specific Vitamin D supplement can also be purchased.

Additional Sources:

Times of India