Vitamin D is essential for maintaining a healthy body. You may not be aware that there are actually two types of Vitamin D, known as D2 and D3. Vitamin D3, commonly known as ergocalciferol, is a form of the vitamin that has been discovered to have several health advantages. It only takes a few minutes in the sun for your body to turn it into one of its most essential compounds, which may help you live longer and healthier.
What is Vitamin D3?
Vitamin D3 is produced by the skin when exposed to UV radiation from the sun. Our bodies are able to produce all of the vitamin D3 necessary when we spend time outside, especially on nice days. You can use a range of strategies to increase your exposure to sunshine while also maintaining your vitamin levels. However, sunshine isn’t always enough, and achieving the ideal ratio of light and heat may be difficult.
In the United Kingdom, sun rays are rarely strong enough to produce D3, and if you live in an area that does not receive much sunshine, it may be tough for you to get the quantity required for optimal health. To avoid any vitamin D deficiency, the NHS recommends that everyone take a vitamin D supplement.
Is it feasible for me to get D3 through my diet?
Vitamin D3 is only found in animal foods, so vegans and vegetarians should take vitamin D tablets to get all the nutrients they need. Vitamin D can be added to your diet by eating fatty fish, liver, egg yolks, butter, and other fortified products that contain D3.
Why is it necessary for good health?
Vitamin D has a number of roles in the body to promote good health. It’s important for our immune systems and muscular growth, especially as we age, and its effectiveness in aiding calcium absorption in the bones has been studied. Vitamin D3 has also been linked to better cardiac health and proinflammatory responses in recent studies. As a result, it’s clear that you shouldn’t overlook this important vitamin.
Final thoughts
Vitamin D3 is one component of the Vitamin D complex, but it’s an important part of your health and well-being. While plants may contain D2, only mammals manufacture D3 from egg yolks, fish oil, and butter. Our skin can turn sunlight into vitamin D3 in this way. It’s beneficial to spend at least 20 minutes in the sun each day, safely and with appropriate sun protection, as well as to eat foods that are high in this vitamin and supplement if necessary.
