What Is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s involved in many essential body functions. There are two forms of vitamin D in the diet and supplements: Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol): found in some mushrooms. Found in some mushrooms.
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): found in oily fish, fish liver oil, and egg yolks. Significant amounts of vitamin D can also be made in your skin when exposed to UV rays from sunlight. Any excess vitamin D is stored in your body fat for later use.
Almost every cell in your body has a receptor for vitamin D. It’s essential to many processes, including bone health, immune system function, and can help protect against cancer
What Is Vitamin D And What Does It Do?
Vitamin D is a nutrient you need for good health. It helps your body absorb calcium, one of the main building blocks for strong bones.
Your muscles need it to move, and your nerves need it to carry messages between your brain and your body.
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These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.
People at high risk of not getting enough vitamin D, all children aged 1 to 4, and all babies (unless they’re having more than 500ml of infant formula a day) should take a daily supplement throughout the year. But there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19.
Can You Get Enough Vitamin D From The Sun Alone?
Some people will be able to get enough vitamin D just from sunlight.
However, it depends on where in the world they live, the time of year, the time of day, and their skin color. In the Northern Hemisphere, a person may not get sufficient vitamin D from sunlight during the winter. People with more melanin in their skin have better protection from the sun, but take longer to make vitamin D. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic black people are more likely to have vitamin D deficiency.
The Vitamin D Council gives some examples: At noon during summer in Miami, someone with a medium skin tone would need to expose one-quarter of their skin to sunlight for 6 minutes. At noon during summer in Boston, someone with a darker skin tone would need to expose one-quarter of their skin to sunlight for 2 hours. Some people may not absorb enough vitamin D from sunlight because of specific lifestyle factors.
The body can only make a certain amount of vitamin D at once. After this, it is vital to protect the skin from UV rays. Uv rays can cause burning, aging of the skin, and increase a person’s risk of skin cancer.