Aside from promoting bone health and overall body function, Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to greatly improve the effects of Multiple Sclerosis and Diabetes, two of today’s most common and unfortunate diseases. Conversely, having a Vitamin D deficiency, has strong ties to the acquiring of these and other diseases. Below, is a closer look at the importance of Vitamin D in your body, and why including a healthy dose of it through supplement and/or diet helps lower your chances of autoimmune deficiency diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis.

First, a closer look at both diseases might be helpful. Multiple Sclerosis is a condition that begins sometimes during 20-40 years of age, and is basically when the immune system decides to attack the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). This leads to degeneration and impairment of physical and mental abilities. In Multiple Sclerosis, vital nerve tissues are mistakenly attacked as if damaging. Diabetes, on the other hand, is a disease in which bodily blood sugars get too high due to mismanagement of your cells to convert your food to energy. The two, though very different in how they affect the body, can be-more often than not-prevented with the use of Vitamin D.

Vitamin D Benefits

In order to see the connection between these two prevalent diseases in their relation to Vitamin D, it is necessary to look at the benefits of Vitamin D-in diet and supplement form-in the body:

• Boost Immunity: Regular use of Vitamin D has been studied to boost your body’s immunity to diseases, and inhibit the development of autoimmune deficiency diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis and Diabetes.
• Regulates Blood Pressure: Regular use of Vitamin D can help regulate your blood pressure and hypertensive diseases associated with high blood pressure.
• Maintains Calcium Stores: Regular use of Vitamin D has been shown to maintain your body’s calcium stores, which is crucial to healthy bone growth, density, and overall health.
• Promotes Proper Cell Use/Function: Regular use of Vitamin D helps to maximize cellular activity in your body. More specifically, Vitamin D aids cells become specific for the specific needs of the body, sometimes called “cell differentiation”. This activity is central in healing the body, i.e. cuts, wounds, bruises, etc; and the growth needed after healing. Promoting proper cell use and function through differentiation, discourages autoimmune deficiency diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Cancer.
• Aids in Regulating Blood Sugar/Glucose Levels: Studies have shown a close relationship in the absence of Vitamin D in a normal diet with those inflicted with type 2 Diabetes. The theory is-though more study is needed-that the nutrients in Vitamin D adds a necessary element to the break down and use of blood sugars in the body.

Where to Find Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a necessary vitamin, whether as a part of your diet and/or in a specialty vitamin; to build strong bones, promote cell differentiation, regulate your blood pressure, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and boost your overall body’s defense against everyday and autoimmune diseases; but besides supplementation, what foods can you find Vitamin D in?

• Fortified milk
• Fish: salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines.
• Cereal
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Liver, beer, etc

How Much Vitamin D is Needed?

To make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D on a daily basis, it is necessary to consider age. Below are the basic guidelines for proper Vitamin D dosage:

• Ages 0-18: 200IU
• Ages 19-50: 200IU
• Ages 51-70: 400IU
• Ages 71 and up: 600IU

It is important to note that these figures are general, and do not account for sex, pregnancy, or disorder. This is why it is always advised to consult with a doctor before changing your diet or supplementation.