Though most supplements have been trashed by experts across the globe, a Neuroscientist and nutritionist has claimed that Vitamin D is the “super” supplement you have been looking for.
Supplements are often pushed on social media as miracles that can solve just about any health-related issue you’ve got when in reality, they are really for people who aren’t getting those vitamins through their everyday lives. You only need to take one look at TikTok to be confronted with how sea moss is the hidden gem to solve everything from obesity to focus.
Vitamin D is THE supplement, according to the neuroscientist
To better understand the power of supplements and whether any are actually worth splashing the cash on, The Focus caught up with Amy Reichelt, Ph.D, a Nutritional Neuroscientist with over 15 years of experience in the field.
“Vitamin D3 supplements are a cheap and effective way of boosting levels of active form of vitamin D in the body. However, it is important to take vitamin D3 supplements as recommended by a healthcare provider, as excessive intake can lead to toxicity,” she told us.
One of the biggest positives of a Vitamin D3 supplement is its ability to enhance bone density and skeletal function through the increased absorption of calcium.
“Calcium is important for bone density and Vitamin D has a key role in maintaining adequate levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood,” Amy explained. “In children, low Vitamin D can cause rickets, a condition characterized by soft and weak bones. In adults, low Vitamin D is a risk for osteomalacia, which results in bone pain and muscle weakness.”
A vitamin D supplement can also act as a “neurosteroid” for the brain while maintaining neuronal function thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Amy further noted how ‘adequate’ levels of Vitamin D have been linked to a lower risk of depression and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s.
It’s great at fighting back illness
When it’s not improving your brain function or ensuring your bones are strong and healthy, a Vitamin D supplement could be working on your immune system function, which is obviously vital for keeping you fighting fit.
Amy explained: “Vitamin D3 modulates the immune system, enhancing the pathogen-fighting effects of monocytes and macrophages and reducing the risk of infections.
“Adequate levels of vitamin D3 may also reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis by regulating immune responses and promoting self-tolerance.”
Though most people could benefit from some extra vitamin D, Amy said that a supplement is particularly helpful to those 1 billion people with a deficiency. Shockingly, around 35% of US adults are said to have a vitamin D deficiency.
“This includes people with limited sun exposure from either working indoors or wearing high SPF when outside, older adults, individuals with darker skin, those living in higher latitudes, and those with certain medical conditions that impair vitamin D absorption,” Amy said.
