It's that time of year again when the sun's rays are weakening and we can no longer make the amount of Vitamin D that our bodies need. Vitamin D is the only vitamin our body can create on its own with the help of the sun but unfortunately we live in Minnesota so we can only do this in the months of June, July or August - and that is only if we can get outside with our arms and legs exposed for at least 10-20 minutes in the middle of the day.
Vitamin D is essential for the health of our bodies. In the US there is an epidemic of low levels of Vitamin D because we spend more time indoors and the use of sunscreen has gone up so drastically that people just don't get enough of the sun that is needed. It has been shown that people with low levels of Vitamin D are TWICE as likely to die from heart disease and other causes than people with optimal levels. Vitamin D also plays a major role in flu prevention and it can even help decrease many pain symptoms from musculoskeletal issues.
Adequate amounts of Vitamin D needed from person to person vary but a normal healthy adult should be taking a supplement in the range of 1000 to 5000 IU per day, especially during the non-Summer months. It is very difficult to get too much since the body will store what it needs. To put the numbers in perspective, if you are outside in July at noon on a sunny day with your arms and legs exposed your body will produce as much as 10,000 IU of Vitamin D in 10 minutes. A small supplement won't give you nearly that much but the benefits will be great.
Vitamin D is an inexpensive way to help maintain your health, keep pain levels lower and it's a great natural way to help prevent the flu or decrease the severity of it if you are unlucky enough to get it. Talk to one of the docs at UNCC if you have any questions about Vitamin D. At UNCC we sell only the highest quality vitamins manufactured by Pure Encapsulations.