Many people have heard of Vitamin D but few people understand its importance in our health. Vitamin D is a unique nutrient in that not only is it beneficial to our bodies but it also helps us to make use of other nutrients that we need. This means that if you lack Vitamin D, you are also lacking other nutrients that your body is not able to absorb due to the lack of Vitamin D. In this article, we explain to you the importance of Vitamin D for seniors and the sources of Vitamin D.
Importance of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important because it helps in strengthening the body’s immune system. This in turn leads to a lower risk of infections and overall good health. Vitamin D also helps the body process and absorb calcium. This is another nutrient that is critical to developing healthy bones. When you lack Vitamin D, your body will not be able to efficiently absorb calcium no matter how much of this nutrient that you take. Subsequently, lack of calcium leads to weak bones and a higher risk of developing osteoporosis. For seniors, this is disastrous as they are often prone to falling due to a lack of balance. With osteoporosis, even a minor fall can mean breaking or fracturing your bones.
How Vitamin D Deficiencies Come About
One of the key reasons why your loved one may be at risk of developing vitamin D deficiencies is due to lifestyle changes. For example, many people tend to stay indoors and minimize exposure to sunlight. Another possibility is that they may not consume the right foods that contain Vitamin D. Whatever the cause, these deficiencies can lead to serious medical conditions and injuries, which further worsen an already serious condition.
Sources of Vitamin D
One of the easiest and most effective ways of getting Vitamin D is through sunlight. Doctors recommend getting thirty minutes of sunlight at least two times a week. Sunlight helps the skin to synthesize this nutrient through the kidney, making it available to the body. During those thirty minutes, you should not use sunscreen, as it is designed to reduce the effects of sunlight. If you live in very hot areas with plenty of sunlight, you should consider doing this in the morning or the evening when the sun is not too hot. If you live in colder areas, it is likely that you are going to need to supplement this with Vitamin D-rich food.
Vitamin D-Rich Food
The best sources of Vitamin D are seafood such as sardines, salmon, and mackerel. You can also get plenty of Vitamin D from fortified cereals and milk. Many of these fortified products are specially designed to offer adequate amounts of Vitamin D which means that your loved ones should be ok even during wintertime. If your loved one is unable to take some of these meals (for example if allergic to wheat or dairy), you may consider taking Vitamin D supplements which also contain adequate amounts of this important nutrient.
