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Sassos adds that certain populations, including older adults, are at higher risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency. “You may be familiar with vitamin D’s role in keeping bones strong and absorbing calcium, but it has a slew of other important functions and benefits, from supporting immunity and brain health to even regulating blood sugar levels,” says Stefani Sassos, R.D.N., the Good Housekeeping Institute's Nutrition Lab director. Not only can the human body manufacture vitamin D from the sun, but we can also get the nutrient through certain foods and supplementation. But some much-needed sunshine also plays a crucial role in your overall health since it provides a dose of vitamin D. Spending time outside in the sun (don't forget your sunblock!) can help improve mood, reduce stress and more. Updated March 15, 2018.In April 2023, we added more information for all of our top-rated picks and replaced out-of-stock items. To order high-quality vitamin D3 with ease use this link: Ģ.
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Also, it is a good idea to check levels through blood work every 6 months to find what levels work best for you and your lifestyle of sun exposure, and the climate you live in. I recommend 5000 IUs a day in the summer and 10,000 IUs a day in the winter for those who live in climates where the days are significantly shorter in the winter. I also take Vitamin D3 supplements from Thorne. When it comes to the food I eat, I try my best to be 100% plant-based. So my advice is to not worry about small amounts of animal products such as sheep’s wool and certainly not algae. Vitamin D3 is derived from either lanolin (sheep’s wool) or Lichen (algae). Let’s consider the serious health risks of not getting enough vitamin D3, to the reality of where Vitamin D3 sources come from. Sometimes Vegans are concerned about the source of their Vitamin D3 supplements. When doctors recommend vitamin D supplements, they’re likely to tell you to take D3 vitamins. Thus, D3 goes farther and does more than D2.
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While D2 and D3 are very similar, different enzymes, or proteins, are needed to activate each one and make them ready to use.ĭ3 works better than D2 to support the body and its functions. To be used in the body, the vitamins first have to be processed in the liver and kidneys.
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