What is Vitamin D3 Good For?

Having the right amount of vitamin D is an essential part of maintaining a healthy body. Vitamin D is absorbed into the body when the skin is exposed to the sun, it then helps improving certain bone disorders such as osteomalacia. You’ll also find that the body changes vitamin D into calcium that can also help prevent bone loss. 

Now, if you’re sat there and you’re in the UK especially you’ll understand that the sun doesn’t show its face all year long, therefore vitamin D3 supplements have rapidly grown in popularity in recent years. The most effective way of taking vitamin D supplements is using drops and taken orally, as it is absorbed making its way to the blood stream quickly.

If it is a prescriptive medication, you are taking the amount of vitamin D will vary depending on your medical condition, diet, age, and the amount of sun exposure you get on a daily basis. It is important to consult with a medical professional when taking any new supplements to ensure you and your body will benefit fully.

Now that you have had a brief recap of the benefits of vitamin D3 and how to include it into your routine, let’s get stuck in to answering some of your questions about this vitamin and any others you have.

Which vitamin is responsible for hair growth?

Biotin, also known as B vitamins, are responsible for hair growth. The best being vitamin B12 which is commonly used as a supplement treatment for those suffering from hair loss. The way B vitamins work is helping to produce more red blood cells, these then carry extra oxygen around the body and deliver it to the scalp which will help nourish the hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. There are a huge variety of B vitamins available for you to try, with many including a selection of B vitamins to give you optimal results. If you are wanting to only have one specific B vitamin then it is important to discuss this with your doctor to find the best product for your needs.

You can also increase the foods rich in B vitamins in your daily diet to help with hair growth, such as.

• Whole grains
• Meat
• Fish
• Seafood
• Almonds
• Dark, leafy greens

You’ll find that our bodies are naturally lacking the correct amount of vitamin B12 so ensuring you eat the right foods and maintain a healthy diet, you’ll be fine. The only problem for some are those following a vegetarian and vegan diet, introducing a vitamin B supplement will help.

How much vitamin D3 do I need daily?

The optimal daily dose for vitamin D3 is no more than 100 micrograms, any higher amount can become harmful to anyone above the age of 17, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and children 11 years and older. As for babies and toddlers between the ages of 1-10 years, the daily dose is 50 micrograms, finally infants 12 months and younger is 25 micrograms. Please bear in mind these are suggestions and you must always seek the advice from a doctor or medical professional to ensure you are having the correct amount and avoiding any long-lasting damage or harm to the body.

As beneficial as vitamin D3 is, taking too much of it over a significant amount of time will result in too much calcium in the body, building up over time and resulting in a condition called hypercalcaemia. This condition will weaken the bones and cause damage to the kidneys and heart.

You will not overdose or having any negative side effects when getting vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, the only concern there is the skin damage caused by UVA and UVB rays so always ensure you have protected your skin with clothing and sunscreen with a sun factor of 30 and above.

Are there any side effects from taking vitamin D3?

Many find that taking vitamin D orally does not result in any side effects unless you are taking too much. As I have already mentioned taking the wrong amount can lead to several concerns and side effects such as.

• Feeling weak and unwell
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Increased amounts of calcium in the body and blood (this is when the wrong amount of vitamin D is taken for a considerably long time)

To avoid this, check the instructions on your product to ensure you are having the right dosage. If you have any concerns, seek the help from your doctor.

How soon will I feel better after taking vitamin D3?

Those who are lacking the highest amounts of vitamin D3 will see and feel a noticeable difference in just a few days. For those who are fit and healthy with no concerns of lacking in vitamin D, you will still see a marked improvement in your overall health and wellbeing after a week or two. Many find they are left feeling more energised and simply healthier in their day-to-day life. 

What are the signs of low vitamin D?

Having a vitamin D deficiency can have a knock-on negative impact on anyone’s general health and wellbeing. The most common signs of lacking in vitamin D are;

• High blood pressure and some developing heart disease
• Diabetes
• Increase risk of falls in elder people
• Risk of infections
• Weakened immune system and other disorders

Therefore, having a vitamin D supplement is important to include into your diet, even if you are an active person who spends a lot of time outdoors. Absorbing the correct amount of vitamin D can be difficult if you only use exposure to sunlight as your source due to several factors that limit the amount.

• The time of day, the sun’s rays are most powerful between the 10am and 3pm
• The amount of cloud and air pollution in your area
• The season as UVB is unable to reach the earth six months out of the year during the colder months. UVB is the sun ray that delivers the highest amounts of vitamin D
• The melanin in your skin, this is what causes the skin to tan, and those with a darker skin will need more exposure to the sun to obtain the right amount of vitamin D.

Does vitamin D help with hair growth?

Yes, it can help with thickening the hair, but not necessarily hair growth. If you are lacking in vitamin D, you will find the hair becomes brittle and thin, therefore many with a deficiency in vitamin D team this supplement with others such as biotin, iron, vitamin C and other key nutrients to give your hair, body, skin, and nails the support they need to be at their healthiest state.

There you have a little more information about vitamin D3 and its benefits, don’t forget to come and follow us on Instagram for more information about supplements and vitamins.