The Vital Role of Vitamin D in the Aging Process
Aging is a natural phase for everyone. However, despite the expectation that such a stage will occur in life, there are still a lot of concerns and the need to look for treatments that would somehow help slow the aging process. In this article, we discuss one of the most prominent discoveries that play an essential role in the process of aging, Vitamin D.
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally produced in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.
How is Vitamin D produced?
Below are the various sources in which Vitamin D is obtained:
- Produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis
- Food and supplements
- Yeast and plants (D2 (ergocalciferol))
- Diet through the ingestion of Vitamin D containing products (D3 (cholecalciferol))
Vitamin D’s health benefits
The following are the important roles of Vitamin D to health in general:
- promotes calcium absorption in the gut
- enables normal mineralization of bone
- modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function
- reduction of inflammation
- maintenance of skeletal health
The concerns of aging
The concerns of this natural process aren’t just mainly about the dissolving youthful look on the outside, but also the greater risk of getting various and related diseases. With aging, our bodies tend to get weaker and not as strong as it used to during the younger days, so the risk of disease could possibly increase.
Vitamin D deficiency
In particular, older adults are at greater risk of the effects of having low levels of Vitamin D supply in the body. Vitamin D deficiency is a global health concern that is caused mainly by insufficient exposure to sunlight and may cause a huge impact on both the physical and mental well-being of a person. This condition has been linked to various health problems including cognitive decline, depression, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, type 2 diabetes and more.
How does Vitamin D help in the concerns of aging?
Having healthy levels of Vitamin D particularly during the aging phase help slow down the process, according to a study.
- Reduced risk of other related Vitamin D deficiency conditions, as mentioned in the previous section
How should you maintain a healthy level of Vitamin D?
Here are recommendations on ways you can obtain a sufficient supply of Vitamin D for healthy aging.
Soak in the sunlight
Vitamin D is called the “sunshine vitamin” for this very reason. Spend some time to spend your day under the sunlight as it is one of the best sources of this nutrient. Your skin hosts a type of cholesterol that functions as a precursor to vitamin D after it is exposed to UV-B radiation from the sun.
Consume Vitamin D-rich food
We couldn’t miss creating a menu specified for Vitamin D supplementation. Fatty fish and seafood are on the top list of foods with Vitamin D sources. Here is a complete list of the health professional fact sheets:
Take supplements
Taking a Vitamin D supplement is one of the most recommended ways to maximize the obtainment of the sunshine vitamin’s benefits. With a trusted prescription from your health experts, take the right amount of supplements needed for you to prevent the risk of getting low levels of Vitamin D. Supplements with Vitamin D ingredients in them such as cell rejuvenation supplements or NAD boosters also help with improving bone health and immune system function.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that a large part of the global population doesn’t get enough supply of, despite it being found in easily accessible sources such as the sun. With more attention to your health and frequent consultation with a health professional, keep your levels checked and maintained particularly during the approach of aging.
