Vitamin D belongs to a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. It is not exactly a vitamin. Our bodies cannot make vitamins so have to obtain them from the food we eat. Vitamin D is considered is considered a hormone because our skin can make it when exposed to sunlight. Lack of the vitamin causes rickets in children. Apart from obtaining it from the sun, other foods such as milk can be fortified with the vitamin.
Health Benefit 1: Absorption of Other Minerals
Vitamin D is helpful in metabolism of calcium and phosphorous. These minerals aid in maintaining healthy bones. Without this vitamin, our bodies would not be able to effectively absorb these minerals.
Health Benefit 2: Boosts Immune System
Vitamin D wards off disorders such as common cold and influenza. The vitamin boosts the immune system by lowering levels of inflammatory proteins known as cytokines. It also increases levels of antimicrobial proteins, which kill invading germs and viruses. As a result, the immune system is able to combat infections better.
Health Benefit 3: Fights Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis or MS is autoimmune disease whereby there is immune-mediated destruction of nerve axons together with their protective myelin coating.New research demonstrates that vitamin D may fight multiple sclerosis (MS) by preventing the migration of destructive immune cells to the brain.
Health Benefit 4: Brain Function
For the brain to function at optimum, it requires Vitamin D. It has been found that vitamin D activates and deactivates enzymes in your brain and the cerebrospinal fluids, both of which are involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and nerve growth. Furthermore, vitamin D safeguards neurons and reduces inflammation.
Vitamin D Synthesis
Image Credit : Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Website / obtained via Creative Commons
Health benefit 5: Weight Management
Vitamin D plays an important role in managing body weight. Research has demonstrated that low levels of vitamin D are actually common in people who are overweight. The hypothalamus (the very small part in the brain that controls hormonal functions, among others detects low vitamin D levels and responds by increasing the body weight set point and also releases hunger-stimulating hormones. It’s noteworthy that Vitamin D suppresses maturation of fat cells.
Health benefit 6: Fights Asthma
Vitamin D helps lower the frequency of asthma. The vitamin help reduce the body’s production of the natural chemical known as IL -17A, which is produced to fight infections but known to worsen asthma attacks.Notably,vitamin D is a suitable substitute for steroids used for treatment of asthma since steroids are expensive.
Health Benefit 7: Combats Rheumatoid Arthritis
Research has shown that Vitamin D helps to lower the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women. Without sufficient vitamin D, our bodies can’t utilize the calcium in the diet. Low vitamin D has been found to cause rheumatoid arthritis.
Health Benefit 8: Anti-cancer Properties
Various studies have shown that Vitamin D aids in reducing the risk of developing cancer. People with low levels of vitamin D have been found to carry a greater risk of suffering from cancer.
Health benefit 9: Fights Tuberculosis
High doses of vitamin D have been found to assist T.B patients, shortening their recovery period significantly.
