Vitamin D is essential to us, not only for our mental health but our physical health as well. Where does it come from and how do we get more?
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 Vitamin D is essential to us,
00:07 not only for our mental health,
00:08 but our physical health as well.
00:10 - Because it's a hormone,
00:12 we actually have receptors for it
00:14 on every cell in our body.
00:16 So it's super important for our immune system,
00:19 for keeping our bones strong.
00:21 - There's a type of cholesterol in our bodies
00:23 that's an inactive form of vitamin D.
00:26 Once we are exposed to UV rays,
00:28 our kidneys and liver convert it into the active form.
00:32 Vitamin D deficiency has been linked
00:33 to things like seasonal affective disorder and depression,
00:37 and health problems such as multiple sclerosis,
00:39 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, thyroid issues, cancer,
00:44 and can also lead to thin, brittle, or misshapen bones.
00:47 According to Stefanski, there are a lot of factors
00:50 that can affect how much vitamin D
00:52 you can make in your skin.
00:54 - The first thing is age.
00:56 The second would be the amount of melanin
00:58 that you have in your skin.
01:00 The third would be where you live,
01:02 where your location is.
01:03 And then the fourth would be the time of year.
01:06 - The main source is sun exposure
01:07 because there aren't many food sources for vitamin D.
01:11 You can find it in certain egg yolks,
01:13 fatty fish like sardines, tuna, and salmon,
01:16 as well as fortified cow's milk
01:17 and certain kinds of mushrooms.
01:19 - You actually have to look at the label
01:21 and then see if it's a source of vitamin D or not,
01:24 because they don't always make those products
01:26 with added vitamin D.
01:28 - If you suspect you have a deficiency,
01:29 talk to your doctor and have them check your blood levels.
01:32 For AccuWeather, I'm Jeff Cornish.
01:34 (upbeat music)