What’s All the Talk About Vitamin D?
Louise Acosta, RN, Specialty Dripps by Afton
Louise.SpecialtyDripps@gmail.com
It’s the perfect time to talk about Vitamin D! Did you know Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin, but a pre-hormone that we make in our skin when it’s exposed to sunlight? The sun is our main resource to make Vitamin D, up to 90% of it, and with sunlight lessening every day during the autumn and winter months, our risk for low levels of Vitamin D are rising! We need to have adequate Vitamin D levels for our bone and immune health, helping to protect us from osteoporosis, infections and even cancer.
A surprising 42% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D from lack of sun exposure. Elderly and darker skin toned individuals are at an even higher risk due to slower Vitamin D production in their skin, explaining why 82% of African Americans and 69% of Hispanic Americans are deficient in Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is making headlines these days and for a good reason. Findings show that Vitamin D is critical to our health because of its ability to; support the immune system, enhance immunity to viral and bacterial infections, stimulate creation of immune system cells, renew the lung’s lining and act as an anti-inflammatory. With COVID still hanging around and the flu season underway, it’s a great time to look to Vitamin D’s for its ability to protect us from respiratory infections, with recent studies showing up to a 70% lower risk with Vitamin D supplementation.
Now you may be thinking, “Is a Vitamin D injection once a month better for me than just taking pills at home?” Why yes it is, studies show that when taking Vitamin D as an injection vs. a pill, your levels remain higher for a longer time period, making it the more efficient solution to boosting your immune system and supporting your bones. When you get an injection of Vitamin D it is gradually released into the bloodstream keeping levels strong and steady for weeks to come, helping to shield you from illness around the clock.
Start protecting yourself today with one of nature’s most amazing nutrients, Vitamin D!
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