Are Vitamin D Supplements a Waste of Money? (Find Out)
Vitamin D makes headlines a lot these days—which I think is great.
Finally, people are learning that D does much more than strengthen your bones. It helps combat cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and practically everything in between.
Word is also out that MANY people are deficient in this critical nutrient.
So, what’s everyone doing about it? Taking vitamin D supplements, of course.
But that might not be nearly as effective as you’d hope—which would explain why so many folks are STILL deficient.
Are YOU wasting your money on vitamin D? Keep reading to find out…
One of the main reasons so many folks are deficient in D is that they (sometimes by accident and often on purpose) avoid the BEST source of vitamin D: the sun.
You need at least 20 minutes of afternoon sun daily to get adequate vitamin D—although that number will vary based on the time of year and where you live.
In theory, supplementing should help if you’re running low on this vital vitamin.
But there are several good reasons why you could take a vitamin D supplement and still be deficient.
For starters, you might simply not be taking enough.
Someone with adequate vitamin D levels should take about 3,000 IU just to maintain their status. But if you’re deficient, you’ll need 5,000 to 10,000 IUs daily to obtain optimal levels.
Second, you might be taking the wrong form.
Vitamin D3 is superior to D2 because your body absorbs it better. Studies also show that D3 raises blood levels for longer than D2.
Third, you might not be taking it in the right way.
Vitamin D is fat-soluble. This means for your body to absorb more of it, you need to take it with food containing fat.
Vitamin D levels are not something to take lightly.
Have yours tested and then decide on how much to take—and how much time to spend in the sun—based on your results and lifestyle
Remember to have your levels retested a few months later and adjust your vitamin D dosage accordingly.
P.S. Discover the WORST states for vitamin D (do YOU need a boost?).
SOURCE:
Liu X, Baylin A, Levy PD. “Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among US adults: prevalence, predictors and clinical implications.” British Journal of Nutrition. 2018;119(8):928-936. doi: 10. 1017 /S0007114518000491
