With the consumption of vitamin D, women can benefit in a number of ways. Vitamin D is a kind of fat-soluble secosteroids, present in milk, fish, meat and eggs. It can also be obtained from exposure to sunlight and dietary supplements. It is important for maintaining a healthy body. Women who are more prone to suffering from its deficiency than men are can profit a lot by eating food rich in vitamin D.
Deficiency of Vitamin D
Vitamin D has a significant role to play in ensuring a healthy life. Deficit of this nutrient can have a negative effect on your immunity system, nervous system and bone development. Vitamin D deficiency is caused by:
Lack of exposure to the sun
Problems absorbing the vitamin
Lack of vitamin D in your diet
By a proper inclusion of Vitamin D, women can ensure the proper supply of the nutrient which is needed for women of all ages.
How Does Vitamin D Help Women?
Pregnancy: A biological phenomenon particular to women and motherhood. At the time of pregnancy, her body is in a sensitive state. With proper intake of Vitamin D, women will not only do good to their own bodies, but also save their newborn babies from life threatening consequences. According to the Health Department of the UK, a pregnant woman must make sure that she takes a certain level of Vitamin D on a regular basis. Deficiency of vitamin D can cause severe complications due to high blood pressure.
Cancer: Studies have shown that vitamin D can prevent cancer. It helps to regulate the growth of cells and controls more than 200 genes including those related to cancer. Women are prone to cancer in their ovaries and breasts. It has been revealed that Vitamin D stimulates anti-breast cancer proteins. According to Dr. Cedric Garlands, breast cancer is related directly to the deficiency of Vitamin D and by a systematic taking of vitamin D, women can ward off the incurable disease. It is known to slow down the malevolent growth of body cells
Depression: Scientists have found out the direct link between depression and vitamin D. Older women with a lack of this vitamin are more prone to depression. To survey the relation between low vitamin D and depression among older women, researchers of America kept track of 531 women aged over 65 for 6 years. It was found out that 42% of them were victims of depression. It was later concluded that by a regular taking in of vitamin D, women can keep depressive symptoms at bay.
Menopause: At an age of around 50, menstruation stops completely and exposes women to the risk of developing osteoporosis and heart diseases. By the age of 40, women should start taking vitamin supplements. Women can benefit a lot from Vitamin D at this vulnerable stage in their lives.
Diabetes: High doses of vitamin D increase the sensitivity of the body of women to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Diabetes is often correlated with complications such as cardiovascular diseases and kidney problems. By a certain research conducted by the School of Nursing, Chicago, it has been deduced that Vitamin D is very important to every person, especially those with diabetes. It is apparent that sufficient level of this vitamin cannot be taken in through diet alone. Vitamin supplements are necessary. Vitamin D deficiency is often detected in women after menopause. Studies have found out the link between this and the pervasiveness of diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
Bone Diseases: Vitamin D is an indispensable constituent in bone health. It makes the bone absorb and retain calcium which is needed for building up bone strength. Insufficiency of calcium in the body can lead to osteoporosis and the body needs vitamin D to facilitate the absorption of calcium. Women with proper levels of the vitamin are less prone to fractures and bone loss.
Women aged 50 and over are at a larger risk of suffering from vitamin insufficiency. This is because the skin is less efficient in the synthesis of vitamin D and kidneys are less able to convert it to its active form with an increase in age. Diseases can be kept at bay by the inclusion of vitamin supplements on a regular basis.