As we ride another wave of COVID-19 and are joined by the flu during these winter months, you may be looking for something to give you a little extra natural protection when it comes to your health. You’ve probably heard more than once that getting sunshine and that daily portion of vitamin D is important for your mental health and supporting your body in general but let’s take a closer look.
Sometimes, you might hear your grandparents or parents talking about what their parents gave them to combat a cold when they were kids and smile at the wild concoctions used. There are some things, however, that they definitely had right, even if they didn’t know exactly why. Cod liver oil is one of those things. Now, we aren’t telling you to bring this historically foul-tasting home remedy back. There are plenty of alternatives that might be more palatable but cod liver oil is, in fact, very high in vitamin D! This oil was a household staple and dragged out whenever someone started to stiffly. It’s tried and true effectiveness is almost certainly grounded in it’s high vitamin D content. Way to go, grands!
Vitamin D has been shown to support the immune system and significantly reduce the risk of influenza. It reduces proinflammatory cytokines and increases anti-inflammatory cytokines, buoying up the body's resistance to respiratory infections in general. Researchers note that those who supplement with vitamin D during the winter months have reported a statistically significant reduction in infection. In one study the reduction was as high as 42%!
Besides a reduction in respiratory infections, vitamin D has also been very effective in slowing and even halting the progression of some autoimmune diseases. It’s also key in the maintenance of healthy bones and the support of adequate calcium levels. Vitamin D is even thought to play a role in the maxillofacial region of the body, providing an antimicrobial effect and impacting the development of recurrent aphthous stomatitis and other periodontal diseases. It also supports healing after dental surgery and the development of healthy connective tissue.
The benefits don’t stop there. In a scientific literature review, 61 peer reviewed articles were included and the conclusion was that vitamin d inversely correlated with clinical depression. While more evidence is needed to evaluate vitamin D as a method of treatment for depression, the evidence does suggest that deficiencies in vitamin D ultimately have a negative impact on one's mental health.
While this article is not meant for the prescription of any supplement or vitamin, it may be worth investigating whether or not you have a deficiency and talking to your doctor about starting a supplement. At the very least, most of us could use a little more time in the sun during these winter months and supporting so many areas of our health is an excellent reason to prioritize getting them!
Resources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dmrr.3375
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7361214/pdf/DMRR-9999-e3375.pdf
https://tilda.tcd.ie/publications/reports/pdf/Report_Covid19VitaminD.pdf
Diachkova, E., Trifonova, D., Morozova, E., Runova, G., Ashurko, I., Ibadulaeva, M., Fadeev, V., & Tarasenko, S. (2021). Vitamin D and Its Role in Oral Diseases Development. Scoping Review. Dentistry journal, 9(11), 129. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj9110129