The Effects of Vitamin D on the Immune System

Have you ever noticed that you are less likely to get sick during the summer months. Much of this is because the sun's ultraviolet rays are stimulating a powerful antioxidant in your body that's helping destroy those invaders. There is a huge supplementation market that has claims to support your body's organ function, immune system, athletic performance and muscle growth. However, there are only a special selection of supplement that at Northwood Chiropractic & Wellness we encourage everyone to take because it is a part of the base foundation of health and wellness. One of these select supplements is Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin meaning we can store vast amounts of it within fat cells.

There are multiple ways we can get Vitamin D levels to rise in our body. It's either through diet, supplementation or sunshine. There are several factors that go into each one of these but ultimately we know that it's through sunshine that we stimulate Vitamin D in our body in it's active and most natural form. However, the amounts stored up only last for a handful of weeks. As the fall and winter months come in we notice an uptick and trend in illness' that start in November and run through March. We commonly call this the flu season.

During the flu season Northwood Chiropractic encourage individuals to supplement their lack of sunshine with Vitamin D3 w/ Vitamin K2. Vitamin D3 is the active form, meaning it's ready to be absorbed and the added Vitamin K2 ensures your Vitamin D3 will be transported to the bone where it'll have the greatest benefit.

Benefits of Vitamin D include:

1. Cancer Prevention - Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of certain cancers including, breast, prostate, and colon cancer. Colon cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States.
2. Immune Support - Vitamin D is vital to immune function and helps our bodies fight off viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells.
3. Bone Health - Vitamin D transports calcium from our bodies into our bones. Our bodies require Vitamin D for strong, healthy bones.
4. Energy, Mood & Brain Support - A leading cause of fatigue is Vitamin D deficiency. Deficiency can also lead to depression, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and frequent falls among the elderly. Research has implicated Vitamin D deficiency in such neurological diseases as Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Syndrome.

Northwood Chiropractic encourages adults to take 5000 IU's per day for health and wellness purposes. Consistency is important, within a few weeks the benefits will be noticeable. If you have any questions about Vitamin D stop by or give us a call 763-432-3932