Scientists and nutritionists have lately been advising people to increase the amount of vitamin D they take in each day. What is the best source of vitamin D, you may ask? The sun! Vitamin D is easy to take in: you don't have to pay for it, you don't have to take a pill, and you don't have to eat special food in your diet... All you have to do is soak up some sunlight! Vitamin D is also contained in dietary supplements you may take, however, this article bought out that you cannot rely on diet alone to get enough vitamin D in your body. It works like this: the sun's rays trigger the production of vitamin D in the skin, and then the body makes that vitamin into a steroid hormone. These hormones, in turn, can have many good effects on your body.
My opinion of this article was that I was surprised about how many benefits vitamin D could have. It improves your heart, immune system, brain, and bone function. It reduces your risk of getting cancer, the flu, and high blood pressure. Vitamin D also heightens your overall mood, helps your body get rid of infections, and makes you a healthier person overall. Did you ever notice how people may get more depressed when it is constantly raining, or in the snowy seasons? That could be because they have low vitamin D intake from the lack of sunlight.
Today, scientists find that people are just not getting enough vitamin D. In prehistoric times, our ancestors lived outdoors with little covering or clothing. It is estimated that they received three to five times as much vitamin D as we do today- because we are always inside! So spend as much time out in the sun as you can- just don't forget your sunscreen. You want to take in as much of this helpful vitamin as possible!
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Jenna,
ReplyDeleteI am too surprised on how beneficial vitamin D really is for you. I never knew it could reduce risk of getting cancer or high blood pressure. I always thought laying out and being in the sun constantly wasn't really a good idea. From reading your blog, seeing that sun is actually a major source of vitamin D and as long as you have sunscreen on, it definitely seems like something that should be done more often!
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ReplyDeleteThis article is really interesting to me. When I was young, my mom always used to tell me that getting fresh air in the daytime was really good for me when I was sick. Now it make sense, because vitamin D actually boosts the immune system. Plus, I think the more time you spend outside, the more likely you are to get a good cardio workout, instead of being stuck inside with technology. As great as it is to spend time in the sun, I just wish people would be more careful about protecting their skin. As we know, too much exposure just leads to greater problems.
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