Sunshine Vitamin - Step Out in The Sun more Often

Vitamin D -THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN

 Deficiency rising in people.

Life has become busy for all of us these days. People spend maximum of their time indoors, be it  office, home or even indoor sports stadiums, rather than out in the open. Most indiviuals prefer not spend time in the sun, rather run away from it, resulting in defiency of Vitamin D. The human body is incapable of producing the vitamin, it starts to gets produced only when the individual comes in contact with sunlight.

Visible Symptoms

The deficiency of sunlight causes many people to suffer from symptoms such as

1. lethargy

2. body pain

3. backache

4. sleeplessness

 5. mood swings. 

These symptoms are sometimes mistaken for something else and even taken lightly most of the time. 

A report reveals that a substantial percentage of Indians are deficient in vitamin D, highlighting a widespread public health concern.

Causes of Deficiency 

In a tropical country like India people are deficient in Vitamin D because of the fact that in darker-skinned people, the melanin concentration is high and vitamin D production gets less. This production is fast for fair-skinned people. Hence doctors have started prescribing Vitamin D supplements to a very high number of individuals.

Many people avoid getting out in the sun is the fear of suntan, especially females.

 This is the era of high rising buildings, which does not leave enough space for sunlight to enter our premises and our body. 

Even children are nowadays seen playing inside their homes rather than out in the gardens. 

With increasing age, the kidneys sometimes cannot convert Vitamin D to its active form. 

Obesity, due to which Vitamin D gets extracted from the blood by the fat cells and alters its circulation. 

Importance of Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays a vital role to in the prevention of many cancers including prostate cancer. Sunlight directly lowers the risk. UVB portion of sunlight stimulates the body to release the sunshine vitamin. As per a study, even the survival rates for prostate cancer patients are much better for those diagnosed in summers.

Vitamin D is not only essential for bones, but for many other health-related issues such as depression, cancer, diabetes, polycystic ovaries, parathyroid problems, prostate problems, and many more.

Sunlight is extremely important for the synthesis and absorption of Vitamin D, which is actually a precursor hormone – it builds the powerful steroid calcitriol.

Researchers are on for discovering that this vitamin is a key factor for maintaining hormonal balance and a healthy immune system. 

Insulin resistance reduces when Vitamin D levels are sustained.There seems to be a connection between vitamin D and insulin resistance and indirectly polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) in girls. 

Women suffering from PCOD are more likely to be obese and have abnormal menstrual cycles. Vitamin D helps in regulating the bodyweight in such females.

CAUTION!

But there are some cautions to be followed!

Many individuals just load themselves with Vitamin D on knowing the deficiency, leading to hyper vitamin D. 

Too much vitamin D is also not good. It can cause headaches, vomiting, dehydration, and pain in the abdomen.

Also, too much sunshine can be harmful for skin.

One should know what amount is the right amount for the body. The easiest calculator is the simple blood test for 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This must be an essential test in the annual health check-up for all. 

One can surely make changes in the lifestyle and curb this deficiency. The diet should be rich in Vitamin D including eggs, fish, and meat. In a vegetarian diet, dairy products, cereals should be included.

Fortified milk is a must for all at all ages.

Sunshine consumption for at least 15 minutes daily can prove to be a tonic. Or the doctor can even prescribe supplements if required.

By RG Hospital