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Discover the Sunshine Vitamin: Top 12 Fun Facts About Vitamin D You Never Knew!

illustration of vitamin-d
Dive into the sunshine of knowledge with these illuminating fun facts all about the incredible vitamin D!

1. Sunshine for Strong Bones

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, and it's not just the Beatles that are great for your health: catching some rays kickstarts a magical process in our skin that produces vitamin D, responsible for keeping our bones robust and warding off bone villains like rickets, osteoporosis, and osteomalacia!
Source => healthline.com

2. Vitamin D Spa Treatment

Who needs a spa when you've got vitamin D to treat your psoriasis? That's right: slather some calcitriol on those flaky bits, and you'll be ready for the beach in no time! In all seriousness: topical vitamin D analogs like calcitriol have been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for psoriasis, with minimal side effects, and can be used alone or combined with other therapies for a corticosteroid-sparing effect and reduced risk of relapse.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3. Fish-tastic Vitamin Source

Feeling a little fishy about your vitamin D source? Well, you're in for a wild catch: Consuming a 3.5-ounce serving of farmed Atlantic salmon provides 526 IU of vitamin D, or 66% of the daily value, while wild-caught salmon can offer up to 160% of the DV, making them one of nature's greatest swimming supplements!
Source => healthline.com

4. Fun-gis in the Sun

Who knew fungi could be a sun-lover's delight? That's right, folks: some mushrooms, like button, oyster, and shiitake, can be a vitamin D fanatic's dream! They bask in sunlight or UV lamps and produce D2 levels that outshine most vitamin-packed groceries we've got our eyes on. Hurry and gobble them up though, as they've got a best-before date like any true love affair: when consumed in time, these UV-kissed mushrooms can be a veggie-based game changer to our dietary desires, spicing things up for our vegan amigos and fellow earth-lovers.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Vitamin D: The Cosmic Suntan

5. Vitamin D: The Cosmic Suntan

Behold the mighty sun, gallantly bestowing its glowing gifts upon us mortals, not in the form of a cosmic suntan, but in the unsung masterpiece that is vitamin D: This jolly-delivering nutrient not only champions our bone health like an all-star quarterback, but also reigns supreme in boosting our immune system and curbing the sinister cronies of chronic diseases such as heart disease and multiple sclerosis. So, let us joyously bask in our astronomically awesome benefactor – or at least gobble up some vitamin D-rich victuals – and bask in the sunshine of good health!
Source => endocrineweb.com

6. Don't Drive Sunshine Deficient

Who knew our bodies could be ticketed for driving under the influence of sunshine deficiency? Apparently, we should all steer clear of the vitamin D-partment: Did you know that vitamin D not only maintains calcium and phosphorus levels but also has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and differentiating effects? It even influences autoimmune processes and cell apoptosis! Nearly 1 billion people around the world are vitamin D insufficient, so remember to fuel up on fish, egg yolks, and liver, or get your dairy products fortified. In fact, emulsions stabilized with whey protein isolate and carboxymethylcellulose have been proven effective in delivering vitamin D3 through yogurt and sour cream. Rats, they're so lucky!
Source => onlinelibrary.wiley.com

7. Skeletal Sherpa: Bone Voyage!

Say "bone voyage" to weak bones with vitamin D, our trusty skeletal sherpa: This sunshine-splashed hormone not only chauffeurs calcium straight from our food into our bloodstream but also pulls a Gandalf on calcium loss, standing firm in the kidney realm to yell "You shall not pass!" This bone-building brigade is essential for our growing saplings as well as steadfast adults, keeping rickets at bay for the kiddos and giving osteomalacia the ol' heave-ho for the grown-ups. Just tap the power of oily fish, milk from the kind-faced cow, fortified noms, sun-kissed skin, or a trusty vitamin supplement to stay strong, stable, and decidedly un-rickety.
Source => yourhormones.info

8. Laughter and Vitamin D

Whoever said laughter is the best medicine clearly didn't know about vitamin D – nature's little ray of sunshine that smiles back at you: While it's well known for making your bones sturdy, vitamin D is also an immune system helper – enabling our warrior cells to combat bacteria and viruses, along with ensuring that our muscles and nerves function at their best. So, harness the power of sun, fortified foods, and supplements to supercharge your health!
Source => cdc.gov

9. Vitamin D Rebel

Vitamin D, the unruly rebel of the vitamin family, recently found itself in a heated discussion about whether or not it even belonged at the vitamins reunion: It's technically not a vitamin, as it's produced by our disobedient bodies and found hiding in the likes of fish and egg yolks, making us turn to supplements or fortified foods for our recommended daily dose.
Source => health.harvard.edu

Swanky Disease-Fighting Dance

10. Swanky Disease-Fighting Dance

While vitamin D may not possess the fountain of youth or the philosopher's stone, it does a swanky little dance number while fending off a plethora of diseases: Although there is no scientific evidence to back up the idea that vitamin D slows down aging or promotes longevity, it is vital for overall health, particularly for the elderly crowd who may be more prone to a deficiency in this sunshine-powered nutrient.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

11. Sunshine for SAD Souls

When the sun refuses to shine on your parade, and your mood takes a nosedive faster than a Swedish pop band's career (we're looking at you, ABBA): vitamin D may come to the rescue as a potential treatment option for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Research has shown that this sunshine supplement could help lift the spirits of SAD-sufferers, particularly when combined with other treatments like light therapy or psychotherapy - but more studies are needed to truly illuminate its effectiveness.
Source => nccih.nih.gov

12. Orange You D-lightful

Orange you glad I didn't say banana? Evidently, vitamin D is too: Fortified orange juice and capsules provide equal levels of vitamin D2 and D3 bioavailability in healthy adults, which means you can simply choose your preference to ramp up your intake of this essential nutrient.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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