Vitamin D is generated by a human body as a reaction to sun exposure. Vitamin D is necessary for healthy bones. Because of the key element of bones, calcium can only be absorbed when vitamin D is present in the body.
What are The Types of Vitamin D?
There are two main types of Vitamin D:
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VITAMIN D2 (ERGOCALCIFEROL)
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Vitamin D2 is human-made and is not produced by the human body. It is synthesized and added to food and dietary products.
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VITAMIN D3 (CHOLECALCIFEROL)
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Vitamin D3 is the natural vitamin D produced when the body is exposed to sunlight.
How Vital is Vitamin D for Women?
Vitamin D is a very important and essential nutrient for women’s health. A severe deficiency of vitamin D can occur in pregnant women. As the pregnancy advances, there can be a calcium loss through raised urinary calcium excretion and fetal requirements. If a woman has a deficiency of vitamin D throughout pregnancy, the child’s bone health is more affected than the mother’s health. However, Vitamin D deficient women are at the risk of preeclampsia and giving premature birth. Poor Vitamin D levels can also cause gestational diabetes and bacterial vaginosis. Moreover, Vitamin D deficiency can lead to other diseases like breast cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.
Vitamin D has a close link with women’s health and reproduction as it contributes to their health greatly. Therefore, women need higher intake of vitamin D through the sun, food, and supplements during pregnancy and later during breastfeeding.
What Happens Due to Deficiency Of Vitamin D?
Vitamin D deficiency is caused when the vitamin level is too low in the body, in which, bones may become weak and brittle. Loss in bone density can lead to conditions like osteoporosis and fractures. Whereas, severe deficiency of vitamin D can contribute to other diseases. Like, it can cause rickets in children. Rickets is a rare skeletal disease that causes the bones to become weak and soft and prevent growth. In adults, deficiency of Vitamin D can lead to osteomalacia that makes the bones weak. People with osteomalacia may have pain in bones and weakness in muscles.
How to Increase Vitamin D Level through Food?
Along with producing Vitamin D through direct sun exposure, Vitamin D can also be created by consuming certain foods. Vitamin D rich foods includes:
- Egg yolks
- Milk
- Red meat
- Fatty fish (Salmon or tuna)
- Cheese
- Mushrooms
- Orange juice
- Breakfast cereals
- Beef liver
- Dairy products such as yogurt
Foods that are high in calcium can help the body produce enough Vitamin D such as:
- Spinach
- Soy beans
- White beans
What are The Drawbacks of Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is important for the body to stay healthy. However, in rare cases too much of Vitamin D can lead to several health issues. Below are a few signs of high Vitamin D level:
- High blood levels
- High blood calcium levels
- Nausea and vomiting
- Reduced appetite
- Weakness
- Stomach pain
- Weight loss
- Bone loss
- Kidney failure
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