How Much Do You Need?
The Proper Vitamin D Dosage
Every person has a specific need for vitamin D. Your need for vitamin D and how much level of the vitamin you have in the body must first be identified. Of course, if you have more vitamin D in your body, you’re going to need than a person whose vitamin D in the body is very low.
The level of vitamin D in your body will largely depend on the amount of sunlight the deeper layers of your skin has received in the last couple of months and on the amount you get by digestion in the same period.
A lot of people often do not get the adequate amounts of vitamin D that their body needs through sunlight and by eating. The status of their vitamin D reserves has a tendency to be deficient in most periods in a year. It may vary from Low-normal to Normal by the end of the year.
How Much Vitamin D Do You Really Need?
A few factors affect the body’s need for vitamin D. Climate conditions is the first factor that may dictate your need. You will need to find other source of vitamin D if your location does not usually see the sun. Exposing yourself to the sun in about fifteen to twenty minutes will be good every day. Others find the help of tanning beds useful. But be extra cautious as it can lead to other skin problems or worse, skin cancer.
As pointed out, some foods such as cereals, eggs, fish, dairy products, and red meat are a good source of vitamin D. The amounts taken from these foods are good but not adequate. And if you’re a vegetarian, you will have to find vitamin D in other sources.
A viable alternative to address this is to take vitamin D supplements. This means you need to consult your doctor before you take in the first tablet. You will have to go blood tests before the doctor can give you a dose that suits you.
The amount of vitamin D in your blood will determine the daily dose to be given to you. A moderate dosage is right for you if vitamin D level is normal or slightly lower than normal. The normal dose is considered 400IU although other professionals believe it to be higher. Just the same, a consultation with a doctor is necessary before you take any vitamin supplements. Your prescribe amount will have to be higher if you have deficiency usually it can reach up to 50,000IU. Such a dose may appear very high for you, but it won’t be prescribed if it were not needed. Better to take your dose than suffer from the health conditions caused by vitamin D deficiency. The usual ones are teeth and bone problems, severe depression, hypertension, rickets and obesity.
