Now that summer has come to an end, it is particularly important to keep an eye on your vitamin D intake. This nutrient, dubbed “the sunshine vitamin” because it can be derived from the sun’s rays, plays a vital role in many bodily processes including calcium absorption, immune system function and long-term brain health, to name a few. Yet, despite its importance – and perhaps because it is so hard to come across in food – many people don’t get as much vitamin D as they need.
According to a recent review in the British Journal of Nutrition, approximately one third of the global population falls short of their daily recommended intake of vitamin D. As the Baby Boomer generation grows older, the world’s age demographics are shifting, making this widespread deficiency all the more concerning.
“Given the global increase in the number of seniors and the almost fourfold increase in hip fractures due to osteoporosis since 1990, public health officials must address the impact of inadequate vitamin D status on fracture risk and overall health in their ageing populations as well as on children and adolescents,” Judy Stenmark, CEO of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, said of the findings in a press release.
Vitamin D enables the body to absorb calcium, which helps promote strong bones and can potentially combat the risk of osteoporosis. However, this compound can be especially elusive during the fall and winter months. Click to read more information about our multivitamins, vitamins and bone support supplements.