Why vitamin D intake is vital for body and soul

Strictly speaking, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a hormone precursor that controls the production of many other hormones. It is the only vitamin that we can produce ourselves. However, the body needs sunlight to absorb vitamin D. It is a real all-rounder: it influences performance, bone formation, the immune system, cell growth, the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system and the brain.

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via Sabrina
05/03/2017, 10:00
Für die Aufnahme von Vitamin D braucht unser Körper vor allem Sonne.© iStock
To absorb vitamin D, our body primarily needs sunlight.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin

Although we can produce vitamin D ourselves, studies have shown that 80 to 90 percent of Germans suffer from a deficiency. The reason: too little sun. From May to October, around 15 to 30 minutes of UVB rays on bare skin are enough to absorb vitamin D and store it for the winter. This does not work in winter. Another cause of vitamin D deficiency is that most people - fortunately - apply sun cream. However, vitamin D is no longer produced from sun protection factor 8.

Vitamin D is good for the bones

If there is too little vitamin D in the body, the risk of osteoporosis increases. Bones break more easily, especially in older people. A vitamin D deficiency also weakens the muscles. Children can even develop rickets. This causes the bones to decalcify, they become deformed and can no longer grow properly. A vitamin D level of more than 30 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood is considered optimal, 20 to 29 nanograms are sufficient. A level of 10 to 19 nanograms is considered a mild deficiency, and less than 2 nanograms a severe deficiency. However, this does not have to be the case.

Vitamin D is found in oily fish

The body produces a good 90 percent of vitamin D itself, with the remaining ten percent coming from food. According to experts, an adult needs around 20 micrograms of the "sun hormone" per day. However, we only take in 2 to 4 micrograms through food. To cover the entire requirement, we would have to eat 400 grams of oily fish such as salmon or mackerel or four kilos of pork every day. Experts recommend taking supplements (e.g. Vitamin D-Loges, pharmacy) - especially now, in winter.