COVID-19 epidemic has proved to be a test of our immunity systems. One has to consume proper diet full of nutrients to survive the pandemic. One of the important nutrients for your body is vitamin D. This nutrient is required for various functions of your body. Vitamin D deficiency can make your bones weak and can even lead to osteoporosis and other diseases. Vitamin D and calcium help in keeping our bones, muscles, and nerves, strong and healthy. In fact, A study has even said that a person who is suffering from novel coronavirus disease often has low vitamin D levels in the body. Therefore, one needs to know the sources of increasing vitamin D levels. So, even the doctors are now recommending to increase the intake of vitamin D now. By doing that, you can protect your body from breathing problems keep your immune system healthy.
According to a study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, the people who are suffering from Covid-19 but have appropriate levels of Vitamin D in the body have a less tendency of catching the virus and can prevent the risk of death. Onlymyhealth editorial team spoke to Dr. Rajeev Verma, HOD and consultant, Joint replacement and Orthopaedics, HCMCT, Manipal hospital, Delhi about this. Read further to know about some ways to increase vitamin D level in the body.
Easy ways to boost vitamin D
Vitamin D not only helps in maintaining bone health but protects us from diseases and infections by enhancing the immune system in our body. In fact, it can even be effective in reducing the dose of diabetes and insulin. Hence, it is important to boost the levels of vitamin D in your body. Here are 6 ways to do so:
1. Exposure to sunlight
For a strong bone structure, your body needs Vitamin D. Sunlight exposure helps your body in providing energy break down Vitamin D. The ultraviolet radiation in sunlight can have a positive effect in increasing the vitamin D level in your body
2. Intramuscular injection
If you are not able to expose your body directly in the sun then you can get one shot of Intramuscular injections. Afterwards, you can maintain the amount of Vitamin D in your body as per the doses given in doctor's prescription
Also read: Study Finds That Vitamin B3 Can Shield The Skin Against UV Rays Damage
3. Seafood
Many food items consumption can help in being a rich source of Vitamin D and one of them is seafood. It is observed that cold-water fish are a good source of Vitamin D. For example, Salmon has a good quantity of naturally occuring Vitamin D
5. Egg yolk
Eggs make it to our breakfasts, lunches and dinners too. They are considered as a convenient source of getting Vitamin D. So, remember to use the whole egg to increase the levels of this nutrient in your body
6. Mushrooms
Mushrooms being heterotrophic have a similar cycle like humans where in they use the sunlight to synthesise Vitamin D. They can become a big time bonus in a vegetarian diet. Except mushrooms, other vegetables like spinach and soyabeans are also good sources of Vitamin D.
Also read: What Foods Have Good Source Of Vitamin D?
7. Cheese
If ample exposure of sunlight is not possible, then cheese is also a food item that can be a good source of vitamin D. Cheese can naturally contain upwards of 30 IU of Vitamin D per one-cup serving
These were some ways through which you can boost the levels of Vitamin D in your body. It has been observed that it can make your immunity stronger and reduce the risk of various symptoms and problems in a person suffering from Covid-19. Therefore, it is important to keep a track of the consumption of nutrient content in your body.
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