5 Vitamin D Myths to Stop Believing In


Vitamin D
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Everybody these days, wants healthy bones, a great mood, and healthier-looking skin. Now there is one such vitamin that is talked about frequently. It is obviously vitamin D and its use. But, with its use, come a number of misconceptions and misinformation that don’t need to be believed. 

Now, it is known to everyone that vitamin D can be provided to the body through direct exposure to the Sun. But is that enough? Or do you have to take anything else for the levels to stay normal?

There is a lot of ambiguity and many more questions that pop up in my a person’s mind about vitamin D.  The best doctors in Pakistan say that it is essential for bone health but needs to be understood better. So, let’s have a look at the myths and misconceptions spread about vitamin D.  

Myth 1: Living in a less sunny area causes vitamin D deficiency

This is not necessarily true. Populations even living in areas where there is less sunny are fine with their vitamin D levels. Even though Sun exposure is important but not always. A lot of times, people that spend a lot of time surfing are seen having lesser vitamin D levels in the body. 

Besides all this, there are some of the factors that can increase your susceptibility to having lower levels of vitamin D. These can be breastfeeding, increase in age, pregnancy, absence of UV exposure, kidney disease, and malnutrition.  

The number of people with vitamin D deficiency is increasing with each passing day, and this is mainly due to the lesser participation of people in outdoor activities. 

Myth 2: Supplements don’t work as great as Sun exposure does

An over-the-counter supplement can work as great as getting good Sun exposure. It is best to take 2000 to 3000 IU every day in order to keep the levels of vitamin D balanced. 

Make sure that you take vitamin D3 and not D2 when it comes to high potency. But the most important thing here to notice is that you must stay in contact with your doctor when you are taking vitamin D. 

But to say that Sun exposure provides your body with more vitamin D is just not fair as taking supplements can work just as great as the Sun. 

Myth 3: The best way to get vitamin D is from the Sun

No, this myth is completely false. A lot of people working in dermatology say that people when suffering from vitamin D deficiency start sitting in the Sun for longer hours. Well, this does save them some money for the natural tan, but this can seriously damage the skin. For some people, the skin is damaged to an extent where the chances of skin cancer increase.

The UVB rays present in the Sun can cause serious Sun damage and can increase the chances of you suffering from cancer. That is why this myth is also busted as Sun exposure can increase your chances of getting cancer. 

Myth 4:  The more vitamin D you take, the better it is

This is surely a big misconception. Vitamin D gets stored in the fat and if you are a small person taking large doses, you might have less available storage, which means vitamin D goes into the blood and might absorb too much calcium creating a toxic situation. 

Now, it is not defined exactly at what amount one needs to stop the intake, but it must be noted that a consultation with your doctor is always a good idea. 

When you go and buy vitamin D, look for the ones that you can take on a daily basis. Also, with increasing cases of skin cancer, it is important to stay vigilant when going outside. The use of sunscreen is always important as it protects against UVA and UVB rays. 

Myth 5: Food provides the needed Vitamin D

Well, this is the biggest myth of all time as there is no link between eating food and getting vitamin D. This is because there are very limited options that contain vitamin D. Now, consuming all this food and getting the needed amount of vitamin D is impossible. 

Some of the foods that provide an excellent amount of vitamin D include salmon, mushrooms, and other fish. Some of the dairy products rich in vitamin D include milk, cheddar cheese, and eggs. 

Having said that, believing that all these foods are enough to keep vitamin D levels balanced is so not true. 

Conclusion

Vitamin D is one such vitamin that is very important for the body. Its intake is tricky as it can very easily get oxic for the body. But the usage must be made keeping in view the myths and facts. There are some myths that are believed to be true and some aren’t.


Kevin Peter