Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that supports your bones, muscle function and immune system.
But should you take a vitamin D supplement daily?
While it offers an array of impressive benefits, how much vitamin D is really needed?
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Should you take a vitamin D supplement daily?
What happens when you do?
What Is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D Supplements
Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and most are animal-based.
Vitamin D2 and D3 differ in chemical structure and sources.
A deficiency in vitamin D decreases the body’s ability to fight disease.
It’s worth repeating that your body makes vitamin D when exposed to sunshine.
However, vitamin D toxicity most often occurs from supplementation rather than from food or sun exposure.
According toMedlinePlus, most toxicity occurs with doses above 10,000 IU daily.
“Vitamin D comes in capsule, sublingual (under the tongue) or liquid form.
“Starting with the form you are most comfortable taking is ideal.”
However, you may want to choose based on your lifestyle choices.
Some agencies include NSF-certified, ConsumerLab, Labdoor and USP verification.
However, more important than the amount consumed is the amount of vitamin D in your blood.
You want to avoid supplementing with vitamin D if you take cholesterol-lowering statins or thiazide diuretics, per theNIH.
Yes, you’re free to get a home kit and send your blood sample to the lab.
You then mail your blood sample to a lab to measure vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D does not directly increase your energy.
However, vitamin D plays a vital role in all your cells' functions.
Fatigue is a commonly reported symptom in people with vitamin D deficiency.
