Vitamin D has been in the news a lot lately, in regard to your health and COVID-19. It is especially important for your metabolism, mood, reducing inflammation, reducing ED, reducing the chance of getting certain cancers, and your immune system. I frequently run blood tests on patients and what I have found is that Vitamin D levels are almost always low. If you want to know for sure, a blood test is the best way to monitor your levels. In the meantime, you want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to get and maintain good Vitamin D levels.
It is common knowledge that 20 minutes or so in the sun will give you a good amount for the day. It is not always easy to do, depending on where you live and what your lifestyle is like. The body’s ability to produce and absorb Vitamin D decreases as we age.
Here are some things to look for if you think you might be low in Vitamin D:
1. Bone Pain
2. You feel low energy and weak
3. You feel moody
4. You have muscle cramps
5. Osteopenia or Osteoporosis
You can get some Vitamin D from foods, but I do suggest you take a supplement, especially during these times to increase your Vitamin D intake. It is found in oily fish, like herring, salmon, tuna and mackerel as well as egg yolks but you would have to eat a lot of it to get nearly enough!
A recent study showed that 80% of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were deficient in Vitamin D.
I suggest that you get your levels checked first to see what you need, but if that is not possible I like Metagenics Vitamin D 5000, once a day, available on my website at eohinfo.com, just go to the store!
Best,
Dr. Jones