Vitamins : Low Vitamin D Levels, Find Out To Raise It

Article by Brian Bowie

Are you getting enough vitamin D? Well you may want to ensure you get enough vitamin D because it is necessary for the proper functioning of the bodily organs. Vitamin D is also important in keeping the immune system working correctly. Just remember that you should consult with a doctor prior to changing your diet or taking any supplements.

The immune system has many functions and one of those functions is that of being an anti-tumor agent. What this means is that Vitamin D potentially is vital in the body’s protection from cancer. Vitamin D also regulates calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. Individuals with a vitamin D deficiency are at an increased risk of many disease and issues such as rickets and various bone disorders.

One way to get Vitamin D is to go out into the sun. When the body gets sunlight it produces Vitamin D. You just want to make sure you limit your exposure to the sun so as to not increase your chances of skin cancer. You may want to consider getting vitamin D from other sources as well as the sun because there are many reasons you may not be getting enough vitamin D. Some examples of why you are not getting enough vitamin D are skin cancer concerns, some types of glass prevent the transmission of UV rays, cloud cover, and pollution. Vitamin D is created naturally by sunlight acting on the skin -indeed, this is the most important means of acquiring it.

The good news is that you will find that there are other ways to supply your body with necessary Vitamin D. More great news is that it is often found in many of the staple foods you may already eat. Some of these sources are bread, milk, margarine, butter and yoghurt. Several species of fish are also a good dietary source of Vitamin D, among them salmon, herring, tuna and sardines.

The next question is can you get too much vitamin D. Of course an individual can get too much of anything and this holds true of Vitamin D. You should consult with your doctor as to how much vitamin D you should be taking. This is not a problem from the naturally occurring vitamin D from the sun but it is true if you are taking supplements or from food. Unlike other vitamins, Vitamin D is not water soluble and is, therefore, not excreted in urine but remains in the body where it can build up excessively, leading to a condition known as hypervitaminosis D.

Some signs of Vitamin D overdose are itchiness and scratching, increased urine production, feelings of nausea and vomiting. An extremely serious result of Vitamin D poisoning is kidney failure. If you have any of these symptoms or suspect Vitamin D overdose, you should consult with your doctor.

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