Health Problems from Vitamin D Deficiency

Researchers are continuing to find more ways that vitamin D impacts our overall health and wellness, and it’s been found that low levels of vitamin D may increase risk of cancer, as well as lowering your immune system, and even compromising your brain function.

In fact, a recent research study found a direct connection between vitamin D levels and cognitive impairment. They found that patients who were suffering from either mild cognitive problems or full-blown dementia often tested with low levels of vitamin D.  People with low levels of vitamin D had much faster decline in brain function (2.5 times faster!), especially in areas that involved memory, like recalling people and places.  The study also found that vitamin D deficiency negatively impacted higher functioning areas of the brain associated with skills like problem solving, planning and reasoning.

So if you’re looking for ways to improve and/or maintain optimum brain health, you should definitely be aware of your vitamin D levels.  There’s a very strong likelihood that symptoms associated with decline in your brain functions are linked with a vitamin D deficiency.

How to Boost Vitamin D

The great thing about vitamin D, is that it’s the only vitamin that your body produces on it’s own from sunlight. So just by spending time out in the sun you naturally make vitamin D.  In fact, sun exposure is the most effective way to increase your vitamin D levels… even more than diet or supplements.

In order to produce enough vitamin D in your body you’ll need to spend at least 15 minutes in the sun each day, with skin exposed to the direct sunlight.  That being said, you should keep in mind that the amount of sun exposure varies with your skin complexion The darker the skin complexion, the more you’ll need to spend time in the sun.  However, there’s a caveat… spending too much time in the sun can lead to sunburn and potentially skin cancer in the future.  So you need to find just the right balance.

Now if you’re worried about betting too much sun exposure, you can also boost vitamin D with supplementation or certain types of foods as well.  If you’re planning to use a supplement to boost vitamin D levels, make sure to find a high quality supplement.  A great dietary source of vitamin D is a high quality fish oil.

Additionally, grass-fed butter, dairy products, and cold-water fish like salmon, are all foods that are naturally high in vitamin D.

Boost Vitamin D to Improve Overall Health and Wellness

The good thing about increasing your vitamin D level is that you’ll not only get benefits for your brain, but you’ll also be providing various other health benefits for your body as well.  Some people find that their energy levels go up, while other people notice an improvement in their sleep patterns and even their mood.

By making just a few simple changes like spending more time outside in the sun and including foods rich in vitamin D or supplementing with high quality vitamin D, you can easily overcome a vitamin D deficiency and optimize your brain function as well as your overall health.