Vitamin D is completely different than most other vitamins. In fact, it’s a steroid hormone produced from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to the sun.

​

For this reason, vitamin D is often referred to as “the sunshine vitamin.” However, sun exposure rarely provides adequate vitamin D, making it necessary to obtain it from supplements or your diet.

​

Yet, only a handful of foods contain significant amounts of this crucial vitamin, and deficiency is very common. In fact, around 41.6% of the U.S. population is deficient

​

Here is the vitamin D3 content of a few of the best food sources 

Food Amount % RDI

Cod liver oil, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) 1,360 IU / 34 mcg 227% RDI

Salmon, cooked, 3 ounces (85 grams) 447 IU / 11 mcg 75% RDI

Tuna, canned in water, 3 ounces (85 grams) 154 IU /

4 mcg  26% RDI

Beef liver, cooked, 3 ounces (85 grams) 42 IU /

1 mcg 7% RDI

1 large whole egg (D is found in yolk) 41 IU /

1 mcg 7% RDI

1 large Nuyolk Fresh Egg (D is found in yolk)

336 IU / 8 mcg 54.3 % RDI

​

About Nuyolk Fresh Eggs:

​

• Nutrient-rich, vegetarian hen's diet with added Vitamin D3.

• 16mcg of Vitamin D3  per 100g of Nuyolk Fresh Eggs for optimum Vitamin D supplementation.

• Regular consumption reaps the extra benefits of Vitamin D3 found in Nuyolk Fresh Eggs.

• Recommended Daily Allowance is 600 IU or 15mcg for adults from all food sources.

​

Consider adding vitamin D supplements to your diet if you’re trying to lose weight or prevent heart disease.

​

In one study, people taking a daily calcium and vitamin D supplement were able to lose more weight than subjects taking a placebo supplement. The scientists said the extra calcium and vitamin D had an appetite-suppressing effect.

​

In another study, overweight people who took a daily vitamin D supplement improved their heart disease risk markers.

​

*Click on Underline words to bring up research studies.

​

Muscle fatigue is a common symptom in people who do not get enough vitamin D. More than 50% of people across the world are deficient in vitamin D.

 

Certain people are more at risk of being deficient than others, including:

• older adults

• people with darker skin

• people who get less sun exposure, such as those in colder climates

• people with obesity

​

The researchers behind a 2013 study found that people with low vitamin D levels had improved muscle efficiency after they received treatment for the vitamin deficiency.

​

There is also a link between depression and low levels of vitamin D. Fatigue is a common symptom of depression.

​

One review highlighted a Norwegian study in which more than 400 people with overweight received 20,000 or 40, 000 international units of vitamin D weekly. Over a year, their symptoms of depression reduced significantly compared with those of participants taking a placebo.

​

*Click on Underline words to bring up research studies.

​

Vitamin D is primarily known to help bone health and for its role in calcium-phosphorous homeostasis—but a new study found it also improves erectile dysfunction. Men who received vitamin D supplements showed increased testosterone levels and improved erectile function, researchers reported.

​

Much of the evidence shows high rates of vitamin D deficiency in patients with erectile dysfunction. In fact, one study of 3,400 participants found that men with vitamin D deficiency were 32% more likely to have trouble with erections when all other risk factors were controlled for. It’s a little on the nose that you need vitamin D for your “D,” but hey—science can be funny too.

​

Vitamin D treatment improves levels of sexual hormones, metabolic parameters and erectile function in middle-aged vitamin D deficient Aging Male.

​

*Click on Underline words to bring up research studies.

​

In addition to its primary benefits, research suggests that vitamin D may also play a role in:

​

• reducing your risk of multiple sclerosis, according to a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association

• decreasing your chance of developing heart disease, according to 2008 findings published in Circulation

• helping to reduce your likelihood of developing the flu, according to 2010 research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

​

*Click on Underline words to bring up research studies.

Research has shown that vitamin D might play an important role in regulating mood and warding off depression.

 

In one study, scientists found that people with depression who received vitamin D supplements noticed an improvement in their symptoms.

​

In another study of people with fibromyalgia, researchers found vitamin D deficiency was more common in those who were also experiencing anxiety and depression.

​

*Click on Underline words to bring up research studies.

​

Relieves Itchy Skin Conditions

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells. It causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin. The extra skin cells form scales and red patches that are itchy and sometimes painful. 

​

Plenty of people with psoriasis use different combinations of medications to treat the condition. For some, the psoriasis symptoms may improve significantly just by increasing their vitamin D.

Vitamin D, which your body can make when exposed to sunlight, has many health benefits that may help treat psoriasis.

 

Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to psoriasis. While a deficiency doesn’t seem to cause psoriasis outright, it may impair the body’s ability to keep the skin healthy. This may increase flares. When taken in healthy doses, vitamin D can help treat psoriasis. Here’s how.

 

Vitamin D possesses different health benefits that can help treat several types of psoriasis, including scalp psoriasis. 

A study from 2011 found that vitamin D can strengthen the immune system. Because psoriasis is an autoimmune response, this effect could help treat the condition internally.

​

Topical oils and ointments for psoriasis containing vitamin D can also help treat flares. Vitamin D can slow the growth of new cells, so vitamin D oil applied directly to the flare can help thin the plaque.

​

Forms and doses of vitamin D

There are different forms of vitamin D that you can use to help treat your psoriasis.

​

Oral supplements

These can be taken in pill and liquid forms that are easy to take on a daily basis. It’s recommended to take 400 to 1,000 international units (IU) per day. Start with a lower dose and increase it gradually, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

​

Foods

Instead of taking supplements, some people prefer to eat more foods that naturally contain vitamin D. These foods include:

• cheese

• egg yolks 

• fatty fish like tuna

• fortified foods, including some cereals, orange juices, and dairy products

​

A blood test can help your doctor evaluate how much more vitamin D you need. For optimal health, your vitamin D level should be above 30 ng/mL. Taking oral supplements and altering your diet to include more vitamin D can improve your overall health and boost your immune system, which may help prevent flares.

​

Topical options

You can also go for topical options. Try getting more sun or using a sun light or light box to increase the vitamin D your body makes on its own. This is called phototherapy. But use this treatment carefully. Increased sun exposure, especially in excess, can increase your risk of skin cancer.

You can also use topical vitamin D oils that are applied directly to the skin, especially on flare areas. Topical oils may be more effective in treating flares that already exist. While topical treatments are soothing, they typically aren’t effective in preventing recurrence.

​

*Click on Underline words to bring up research studies.

​