Often referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, Vitamin D is produced naturally by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight.  You can also get it through certain foods and supplements to ensure adequate levels of the vitamin in your blood - these include fatty fish like salmon or sardines, fish liver oils, and egg yolks - and in fortified dairy and grain products.

Vitamin D is a unique type of vitamin, as it acts more like a steroid hormone than a dietary aid and has several important functions, perhaps the most vital are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and facilitating normal immune system function.

Vitamin D is actually available in two forms: Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3, and the main difference really is just the source. While D2 is manufactured from plants and fungi, D3 is created from animal products and is the most similar to that which is naturally made by the body. Because of this familiarity, most doctors and nutritionists recommend supplementing with Vitamin D3.

There are many benefits of Vitamin D3 which have an impact on as many as 2,000 different genes within the body and has a direct role on far more aspects of health than many might realize. Most commonly; 

• promoting healthy bones and teeth
• supporting immune, brain, and nervous system health
• regulating insulin levels and supporting diabetes management
• lowering blood pressure
• supporting lung function and cardiovascular health
• influencing the expression of genes involved in cancer development

Research also suggests that Vitamin D may also play a role in improved resistance against a host of diseases and conditions, assist in the reduction of depression as well as boost weight loss, and more recently with the outbreak of coronavirus, studies have shown that patients with sufficient levels of Vitamin D are less likely to experience complications and die from COVID-19, in-fact sufficient Vitamin D has been found to reduce infection rates by 54%.

In recent years, doctors have begun to pay more attention to the very real issue of Vitamin D deficiency and the problems it can cause. Some of the more common include: 

• severe pain in bones, sometimes leading to stress fractures or other bone abnormalities such as osteomalacia or osteoporosis
• tiredness, muscle aches, pains and overall weakness
• fatigue and general feeling of malaise
• depression
• difficulty walking

It is estimated that about 32 percent of children and adults are deficient, and that roughly 50 percent of the population is at risk for developing a deficiency. This is due to a lot of factors, most of which revolve around the sun. 

• using a lot of sunscreen: While it may seem dangerous to go out into the sun without sunscreen, you will need to absorb some direct rays to increase Vitamin D; 15 minutes is sufficient and bears little risk
• living in areas with high pollution can filter out UV rays
• spending more time indoors than out
• having darker skin tone that reduces the amount of sunlight that’s able to be absorbed
• living in areas with little sunlight or in areas with tall buildings that reduce direct sunlight
• taking medications that can reduce Vitamin D3 levels

If you shun the sun, suffer from milk allergies, or adhere to a strict vegan diet, you may be at risk for Vitamin D deficiency. We all know it can be hard to get enough Vitamin D each day through sun exposure and food alone, so taking Vitamin D supplements can help. MaxiPharm brings you a dose of pure Vitamin D3, in certified premium quality capsules with a recommended daily intake of 1,000 IU. Although Vitamin D3 is an over-the-counter option, it is a hormone and should be administered correctly as taking too much can limit the benefits of the sunshine vitamin.

Overall, Vitamin D plays a vital role in your health - keeping your bones strong, your heart and brain healthy, and your immune system fighting-fit. By taking MaxiPharm’s Vitamin D3 supplement, you can make sure you get enough of this essential vitamin to support healthy bones, skin, brain function and immunity.