Ever since you were a kid, you were told to take your vitamins. Vitamins help your body grow and develop normally. Supplements often become our go-to source for vitamins and sometimes they are necessary, but there are other ways to get your daily recommended vitamin intake through food.<\/p>\n
Vitamins are in our food and every vitamin has it\u2019s own specific job. One of the most well known vitamins is vitamin C which is found in fruits and vegetables – oranges being the most well-known source. The more oranges you eat, the more vitamin C your body gets. If your body fails to get a needed amount of a particular vitamin, there are physical consequences – such as becoming anemic from a lack of vitamin C.<\/p>\n
Food is a great source for many vitamins, but there is one really important \u201cvitamin\u201d that your body creates on it\u2019s own – vitamin D.<\/p>\n
Vitamin D is a vitamin many are familiar with and you may be surprised by this, but vitamin D is technically not a vitamin, it\u2019s a prohormone. The difference is that a vitamin cannot be made by the body. Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin from sunlight, therefore it is not a true vitamin and is, in fact, a hormone.<\/p>\n
Sunlight serves as the primary source of vitamin D. There are also some foods that have vitamin D such as mushrooms raised in sunlight. The common thread through both: sunlight.<\/p>\n
Another source of vitamin D is milk, but contrary to popular belief (and marketing), milk does not naturally have vitamin D in it, rather, vitamin D is added to it. While the vitamin itself is beneficial, the added vitamin D actually allows your body to more easily absorb the calcium which is an inherent attribute of milk.<\/p>\n
Another fact about vitamin D you may be interested in knowing, is that people with darker skin need more time in the sun to produce the same amount of vitamin D as someone with lighter or fairer skin would need.<\/p>\n
If you are wondering if sunscreen will deter your ability to produce vitamin D from the sun – good news, it does not. All that matters is that you get direct sunlight – the key word being DIRECT. As a matter of fact, people who live in the northern part of the US or Canada have a harder time converting sunlight into vitamin D because of the angle of the sun. They simply do not receive as much direct sunlight as southern states do, making it more difficult for the body to produce vitamin D.<\/p>\n
As we age, the skin loses its ability to convert sunlight to vitamin D so more supplementation is required.<\/p>\n
Blood testing is the only way to learn your vitamin D number; it\u2019s based on the scale of International Units or IU for short.<\/p>\n
When you are tested for vitamin D deficiency, providers will want to see your number be between 30-100 IU. Ideally, you will be on the higher end, around 70 or 80 IU. When your vitamin D level is below 30 IU, it is associated with rickets in infants and children, and weak bones in adults. Additionally, when you are low in vitamin D, you may suffer from excessive pain.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there are not many signs or symptoms if you are low in vitamin D, and low vitamin D levels can affect other organs. Getting regular blood testing done is the best way to know your vitamin D levels and make the necessary changes.<\/p>\n
There are two types of vitamin D: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Both convert in the body to the same thing so either one is beneficial. As long as you are getting one of them, your body will benefit.<\/p>\n
While the source of vitamin D doesn\u2019t matter, your body\u2019s ability to actually absorb the vitamin depends a lot on how your body utilizes vitamin D. What this ultimately means is that based on the rate your body absorbs vitamin D, the amount of vitamin D you need will vary, as well as when it may need higher or lower volumes.<\/p>\n
Since vitamin D comes from sunlight, a natural question to ask is if different times of the year dictate the amount of vitamin D you need?<\/p>\n
Natural absorption of vitamin D really comes down to the angle of the sun. If you\u2019re getting sun exposure in the morning, then the rays are coming in and bouncing off, so you\u2019re not actually getting vitamin D. The ideal time to get sunlight is between 10am-2pm when the sun is more directly overhead.<\/p>\n
The need for vitamin D is the same for adults as it is for children. Children especially, should be using supplements for vitamin D to encourage bone growth and healthy teeth. At Warner Family Practice, we encourage kids to take vitamin D supplements.<\/p>\n
To be more specific, here are some guidelines (not meant as a prescription – schedule an appointment with your provider for prescribed amounts):<\/p>\n
Due to the fact that vitamin D comes from sunlight, it comes with a lot of controversy because of skin cancer. This is always a concern and providers will keep that in mind. It\u2019s a fine line that you walk to not get excessive sun at the cost of receiving vitamin D. There are ways you can still gain exposure while keeping your skin healthy. You can view our past articles on skin care, sunburn and skin cancer for more information.<\/p>\n
Visit our family practice here in Chandler, Arizona and have your vitamin D levels tested. Actively practicing preventative care is always in your best interest, and no matter how you feel, your next visit should include a prescription to have your vitamin D levels tested if they haven\u2019t been recently.<\/p>\n
Our providers at Warner Family Practice are all equipped and trained to help assess your current health and treat whatever current conditions you may be experiencing.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, insurance companies do not routinely pay for vitamin D testing which means a lot of people will opt to not be tested. After consulting with your insurance provider, if they will not pay for the test, you should know that getting tested for vitamin D is not expensive, and it gives you the best opportunity to identify deficiencies sooner, avoiding more costly medical care down the road. Discover what your insurance carrier will pay so you\u2019re in the know, then before your next blood test, make sure your provider orders vitamin D testing.<\/p>\n\n