When you think of vitamin D, the first thing that likely comes to mind is sunlight. But there’s much more to this important nutrient than just getting a suntan. It plays a vital role in your overall health and wellbeing, from boosting immune function to strengthening bones and supporting cardiovascular health.

Understand its role in your health

It is essential for good health. It helps regulate cell growth, modulate many other processes in the body, and plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It also supports the immune system by helping it ward off infections, and may help lower your risk of certain types of cancer. Additionally, adequate levels of vitamin D can protect against depression and reduce inflammation.

Learn how to get enough Vitamin D in your diet

It’s important to get adequate vitamin D in your diet. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found naturally in fish, eggs, and dairy products. To ensure you get enough of the vitamin daily, you need to make sure that your diet includes enough vitamin D-rich foods. Additionally, you can receive adequate amounts of the sunshine vitamin by spending some time outside each day without sunscreen or through fortified foods, such as milk or orange juice.

Discover the benefits of taking a Vitamin D supplement or going out into the sun

It offers many health benefits, such as maintaining strong bones, regulating the immune system, aiding in calcium absorption, and more. Regular exposure to the sun is one way to maximize your vitamin D intake, as well as taking a supplement. Supplementation can help ensure you’re providing your body with adequate amounts of the nutrient, even during winter months when sunlight may be limited.

Understand what possible risk factors to consider when adding Vitamin D supplements to your diet

It’s important to understand the potential risks associated with supplementing with it. Too much vitamin D can cause health issues, such as high blood pressure and calcification of the arteries, so it’s important to consult a doctor before taking any supplements. Additionally, people with certain medical conditions may need to adjust their dosage for their particular condition, which is why its best to always talk to a doctor before starting any new supplement.

Find out about scientific studies that back up the health benefits with your diet and lifestyle choices.

Recent studies have indicated that regular exposure to the sun or supplementation with Vitamin D may reduce or prevent the risks of developing certain illnesses and diseases. Research has suggested that this essential vitamin can improve bone health, reduce inflammation, boost immunity and even fight depression. It’s also thought to play a role in reducing the risk of diseases such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, some forms of cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings so it’s important to highlight that it’s best not to rely solely on Vitamin D supplements for your health care needs.

Vitamin D and the risk of dementia

Researchers from the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute in Canada and the University of Exeter in the UK explored the potential benefits of taking vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk of dementia. The team studied over 12,388 participants who were dementia-free when they signed up for the US National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. Their findings, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, revealed that taking it was associated with living dementia-free for longer and a 40% reduction in new diagnoses of dementia. Additional results showed greater effects among females, those with normal cognition, and those that did not carry a gene known to present a higher risk for Alzheimer’s dementia. Studies have shown that it can help protect the brain by promoting clearance of amyloid and tau buildup — two components linked to dementia development — suggesting its potential use in prevention or delay of its onset. To confirm this further, the VitaMIND study is underway to assess changes in memory and thinking by randomly assigning participants to take either vitamin D or placebo supplements.