The Buyt Desk
Vitamin D, also known as the Sunshine vitamin, is prudent for a healthy life. But, the irony is despite having access to sunshine, a significant percentage of the population worldwide suffers from low Vit D level problems. The easiest way to improve vitamin D is its supplements. It comes in various forms, sachet, tablets, capsules, etc. But as every coin has two sides, it applies to the supplement also. Let’s check the downsides of Vit D supplements, and should you be worried about taking Vit D supplements?
Benefits Of Vit D Supplement
When you know your Vit D level is low, the next thing you do to improve is replenish it with the Vit D supplement. The benefits of this supplement are many
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It is easy to consume
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Not pricey
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Quickly shoots up the Vit D level
But do all these benefits come at a cost to your health?
Good Source of Vitamin D
A lot of food contains a percentage of Vit D. Regular intake of these foods boosts the Vit D level. The food includes.
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Oily fish – Salmon, mackerel, sardine, herring.
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Liver
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Red Meat
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Egg yolk
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And food fortified with Vit D
Is It Right to Rely on Vit D Supplement?
Supplements are a source of nutrients made artificially to fill the known gap. Supplements can be vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, etc.
The food resources available around us are enough to provide essential nutrients that our body requires to function. However, our unhealthy lifestyle, eating habits, and unavailability of a few foods deprive us of important nutrients, e.g. Most people do not have access to Vit D-rich food.
Example: Our body makes Vit D when exposed to sunlight. It makes enough for the body to fulfil its requirement, but these days due to time crunch, skin tanning or out of convenience, we don’t go out during day time. This result in low Vit D level in the body.
According to a study, more than 1 billion people worldwide are deficient in Vit D. People with low Vit D levels try adding it by eating Vit D-rich food and spending time in the Sun. However, they are unable to meet the threshold. In fact, nutritionists say it is not easy to get the quantity of vitamins that our body needs through diet and sunlight. Fortified foods and UV-exposed mushrooms are also not enough. So, what is the solution? Are supplements the best alternative to fulfil the body’s Vit D requirement? What if you overdose on it?
The Side-effects of Vit D
Like the other supplements bagged with side effects, the Vit D supplement doesn’t have that. When you take Vit D through food or the Sun, your body stops making it once you get enough. But this is not the case with the Vit D supplement. There is no auto mechanism present in the body to regulate its intake.
So, if you think excess Vit D would cause any damage to your body, you can be partially wrong. It is because it is difficult for an individual to get too much Vit D even when they take supplements along with Vit D-rich diet and exposure to the Sun. You would face the toxicity of Vit D supplements only when you over-consume them, which happens rarely. However, what if it happens? Too much Vit D for a long period can cause condition hypercalcaemia (In this condition, too much calcium builds up in the body). It weakens bones and damages the kidney and heart. Nevertheless, studies also suggest that you cannot overdose on Vit D until you take it in unprescribed quantity. Also, you cannot fulfil your Vit D needs with just food and the Sun.
How Much Vit D Do You Need?
Children from the age of 1 year and adults need ten micrograms of Vit D in a day. It is for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers too, which is difficult to manage with diet and exposure to sunshine.
