Vitamin D is an interesting nutrient. This is actually a hormone and is primarily produced by the skin’s exposure to sunlight. Only about 10% of the active form of vitamin D in your body comes from food.
When your body produces vitamin D from the sun and absorbs it from food, your liver and kidneys convert it to the hormone calcitriol.
In the body, active vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium, which enters the bloodstream, prevents calcium loss from the kidneys, and promotes the formation of new bone cells.
It also plays an important role in strengthening the immune system, directing calories to muscle instead of fat, fighting depression and heart disease, and preventing the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.
A 14-year Chinese study found that prediabetics (approximately 100 million Americans) with low blood levels of vitamin D were more likely to progress to type 2 diabetes than those with healthy levels of vitamin D. has been shown to be much higher. , the risks were even greater.
Since most people spend a lot of time indoors, we recommend getting a blood test to check your D3 levels and taking a daily supplement of 1,000 IU of D3 (or more if test results indicate) To do.
You can also boost your D with wild-caught salmon and other foods mentioned above. Get the best recipes in Dr. Mike’s What to Eat When Cookbook.
