Since vitamin D is largely synthesized endogenously in our body, its most important environmental source is sunlight, not food. Since it is not possible for those of us who never leave the house or commute from work to home during the cold winter months to get enough sunlight, serious decreases in our vitamin D levels may occur, especially during the winter months. With the arrival of summer, the duration of exposure to sunlight increases. Nutrition and Diet Specialist Specialist. Dyt. Gülen Ecem Kalkan wrote about the effects of vitamin D on the body.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and its most important effect is on calcium balance and bone health. In addition, vitamin D functions like a hormone and plays a very important role in preventing cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes, Crohn's Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.
Expert. Dyt. Gülen Ecem Kalkan said the following about vitamin D deficiency:
- Recent studies have shown that the frequency of colon and rectum cancers increases in case of insufficient intake of vitamin D. Studies have shown that people living in the north pole have an increased risk of developing colon, pancreatic, prostate, lung and Hodgin lymphoma and dying from these cancers compared to people living in the south pole.
- Studies show that vitamin D deficiency reduces insulin production and causes disorders in insulin metabolism. and has been found to be associated with obesity. In addition, in obese people with a body mass index of 30 and above, vitamin D deficiency is more common in obese people, as it is stored in fat tissue and its use in the body decreases due to increased fat tissue. So, if your body mass index is 30 or above, it is very important to have your vitamin D levels checked. It is also important that your vitamin D level is normal for you to lose weight.
- It is known that vitamin D deficiency increases the tendency to depression. Increasing depression can accelerate weight gain by affecting people's desire to eat and drink.
- Vitamin D also plays a serious role in our immune system. missing In this case, the tendency to infections increases and the body's immune response may be impaired. Treating vitamin D deficiency, especially in the spring months, is of great importance in terms of regulating and strengthening our immune functions.
Dyt. Kalkan: “Among the natural food sources of vitamin D, the richest ones are fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon, sardine, bonito, fish liver, calf liver and egg yolk. However, our most important resource is sunlight. Exposure to sunlight for 20 minutes daily is important for us to get vitamin D. If you think you are getting insufficient sunlight, it would be beneficial to consult your doctor and have your vitamin D levels checked. "In these months when the sun shines a lot, sun exposure for at least 20 minutes will keep your vitamin D levels at normal values and make you feel healthier and fitter," he said.
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