Let’s Talk Vitamin D

“Finish your milk if you want strong bones!”. You’ve maybe heard this a time or two at the dinner table growing up. Is there any merit to this age-old saying? The answer is yes.

While milk doesn’t naturally contain vitamin D, it is a good source of calcium. In the 1930s, the United States began to fortify milk with vitamin D in an effort to eradicate rickets, a disease that softens and weakens the bones. Vitamin D and calcium, work well together, with D aiding calcium absorption into your bones, thus helping strengthen them.

Unfortunately, drinking glasses of milk, eating foods high in Vitamin D or standing in the sun isn’t going to cut it. In fact, “nearly one half of the United States population is deficient in Vitamin D - especially older adults, young women and infants” (Healthline, 2020). The rate of deficiency is a shocking 75% for Latinx communities and 80% for Black communities (darker skin protects people from the powerful sun, but pigmentation reduces vitamin D production) . However, with modern medicine and IV therapies like the ones provided at Privvy Health, we’ve got you covered with more efficient and effective ways to get this vital nutrient in.

Why Do I Need It?

Vitamin D is both a nutrient and a hormone that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that has a long history of aiding the bodies absorption and reaction of calcium and phosphorus, both of which are essential for bone development. Lower levels of the vitamin D have been proven to be linked with higher risk of chronic disease and while having the proper amount of vitamin D has seen to result in lower risk of disease.

According to Healthline, “Vitamin D has many benefits including bone health, proper cell growth, nerve and muscle function, and a healthy immune system. It likewise helps reduce inflammation, which is thought to contribute to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and cancer” (2020). All benefits which will be helpful to our bodies as we age and deal with increased health concerns.

Vitamin D can also play a role in improving your overall mental health. Have you ever noticed mood or mental health changes when you’re in the middle of the summer sunshine compared to the depths of a long winter with lots of rainy days? It’s not just in your head. Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” which is essentially a hormone that is made when the cholesterol in your skin is exposed to the ultraviolet rays from the sun (Healthline, 2020). Since most people are already deficiency, the addition of limited or no UV ray exposure can exacerbate symptoms.

Berk et al. (2007) was able to prove that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in depression and possibly other mental disorders. In addition, they suggested that it could play a role in the supplementary treatment of depression. Another recent report summarized studies on vitamin D and mood disorders in women, suggesting that vitamin D may be an important nutrient for women’s physical and mental well being (Murphy & Wagner, 2008).

Where We Come In

At Privvy, we have a multitude of therapies that will help you get the right dose of Vitamin D - all without exposing yourself to the sun (which can come with it’s own risks) or drinking a big glass of milk! Our Powerhouse - Vitamin D3 injection can help you get back on the right track. Available in low, mid and high does, there’s something for everybody. Schedule your consultation today with our medical professionals, either online or over the phone, to see how vitamin B can be fit for your long term health.

Sources used:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-milk#Supplements-101:-Vitamin-D
Berk M, Sanders KM, Pasco JA, Jacka FN, Williams LJ, Hayles AL, Dodd S.
Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in depression. Medical Hypotheses.
2007;69:1316–1319.
Murphy PK, Wagner CL. Vitamin D and mood disorders among women: An
integrative review. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2008;53(5):440–446.