About Vitamin D
Some people wonder if Vitamin D is a vitamin at all. That’s because it’s a vitamin that the body manufactures naturally. Some people believe it’s simply another hormone or even a derivative of cholesterol. But for our purposes, Vitamin D is a vitamin.
Some of the things that Vitamin D does is help the intestines absorb calcium and synthesize enzymes in the mucous membranes that also help with calcium absorption. It also helps the body assimilate phosphorus, which is necessary to make bones. That’s why it’s vital that children get the right amount of Vitamin D, because without it the teeth and bones can’t grow properly. This will result in rickets. The recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D is about 200 International Units or about 5 micrograms. Vegetarians may need more Vitamin D. Most people can get their RDA by spending about 15 minutes a day in the sun.
As for grownups, Vitamin D is important in supporting the health of the nervous system and the heart. It also helps with blood clotting. All of these activities are related to the body being able to properly use calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D is best taken with Vitamin A, and if a person wants to take them both at the same time, the best source is cod liver or fish liver oil. Other sources of Vitamin D are eggs, fatty fish and fortified milk, the kind that comes in cartons with the big, fat D on them.
The body uses bile to help absorb Vitamin D through the walls of the intestines. The Vitamin D that’s made in the skin is absorbed into the body’s circulatory system. The amount of melanin in a person’s skin also affects the absorption of Vitamin D. The more darker the skin, the less Vitamin D is produced. After Vitamin D is absorbed, it’s sent to the liver and stored there. Other reserves of Vitamin D can be found in the brain, the skin, the bones and the spleen.
Hi Jamie, a wonderful source of information is the Vitamin D councils newsletters. Vitamin D is even used in high dosages to treat autism and a lot of other diseases.
https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
Hi Jamie, I live in deep South Texas and you would be amazed how many people who work in the hot sun on the Gulf Coast who are Vitamin D deficient. I have a friend, who has some health issues and she has been doing research for herself and her family. Her last research said they are looking very closely into raising the daily needs way up. My 80+ year old mother was having some memory issues and her Doctor had her checked, she is now on Mega doses of Vitamin D. Please let everyone know this is a very important Vitamin and we all need to watch our levels with just a simple yearly blood test.
Is that means Vitamin D and cholesterol was different. I ever here that the yolk it self was produce cholesterol in our body so I never it this. Is that true? Which one is contain with vitamin D the yolk or white egg?
I really liked your post! I recently went for a physical, turns out I need to take Vitamin D supplements. I’m not big on meds, so anything that is not natural. Thanks for the info!
Yeah vitamin D is really interesting since we can manufacture it ourselves. Why is then that we can have vit D deficiency? Just a little intrigued.
even sunlight is very good source of vitamin D… it strengthens our bones.