The Benefits of Vitamin D for Canadians and How to Make Sure You’re Getting Enough

Considering our overall health and ensuring we are getting an adequate intake of the vitamins and nutrients we need to ensure optimal health, is essential now more than ever. Think the “sunshine vitamin” is only good for preventing the flu? It actually fights a multitude of diseases, including multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and soft bones. Vitamin D has also been a key player for preventing depression, boosting energy, and even helping to promote weight loss.

Vitamin D has been getting a lot of press lately for playing an active role in minimizing the severity of COVID-19. In fact, in almost every extreme case of the Coronavirus that required hospitalization, a Vitamin D deficiency was present. Vitamin D is essential for our immune health. Although we can get supple amounts of the vitamin from the sun, the winter months spent indoors can lead to inadequate stores in our bodies. Even in the summer months, we still may not be getting enough vitamin D due to the encouragement to wear sunscreen, which prevents skin cancer yet also prevents us from absorbing much of the goodness provided from the sun.

According to data from Statistics Canada, one-third of Canadians have Vitamin D levels under 50 nmol/L which is below the amount needed to sustain the health benefits from the vitamin. For years, Health Canada and other medical leaders told the public that levels of Vitamin D needed to be around 600 IU (international units) to be considered normal, however, in recent years, many medical sources have proved that it needs to be quite a bit more than that. Especially in postmenopausal women and cases where Canadians are at risk of Osteoporosis, have other health problems, etc., this total could be as high as 5000 IU a day.

The symptoms of low Vitamin D levels, or even a deficiency, are similar to that of many other health issues or vitamin deficiencies. Fatigue, lightheadedness, and pain or soreness in your bones are all signs associated with low levels of Vitamin D. If you think you may have a deficiency, it’s important to speak to your doctor or dietician as soon as possible. There are many ways to get Vitamin D, such as upping your calcium intake, however, in Canada, most people need to take vitamin D supplements.

Oftentimes, traditional vitamins are not completely able to be broken down by the body. Much of it is digested and ejected without giving any use to the taker. We could be thinking we are taking an adequate vitamin supplement, but in reality, should be ingesting more. Getting vitamins by IV, as a liquid or in another form of intake has become a far better method of supplementing. Emulsified and Micronized vitamin supplements have been confirmed as being more easily and more quickly absorbed by the body, meaning you get every ounce of that vitamin you need.

Interested in learning more about emulsified and micronized vitamins and how you can ensure you’re getting the right amount of Vitamin D in your diet? Reach out for a conversation with Vitalis Hormone Therapy today.