In the last few years, an easily obtained, but often overlooked nutrient, Vitamin D, has gotten a lot of attention... not only from the public, but from serious researchers as well.
There's no real trick to getting Vitamin D. In humans, the body makes Vitamin D simply by exposing the skin to sunlight for a few moments a day. Research has shown that only a few minutes, as little as five minutes of sun on skin, are required. However, this depends on how much skin, how much sunlight, and even what kind of skin. Darker skin may need more exposure, for example.
The good news is that, even without exposure to sunlight, Vitamin D is readily available, being added to many foods, such as milk, and in over-the-counter Vitamin D supplements.
It has long been known that Vitamin D has valuable benefits in helping reduce the risks of such age-related illnesses as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other conditions associated with an aging body. Additionally, ongoing research is revealing new benefits of Vitamin D, often in unexpected areas.
One such area is stress.
Stress is considered by many researchers to be THE most significant risk factor for poor health, and the onset of many diseases, of our modern era. Our ancestors had "stress" when a bear leaped out at them. We have "stress" every moment of every day, thanks in part to our global news network, and this stress operates to deteriorate the body and the mind separaely, and, through the mind-body connection, mind and body simultaneously.
While the actual process by which Vitamin D helps the mind and body deal with stress, and the effects of stress, is beyond the scope of this article, the facts are that low levels of Vitamin D can be a contributing factor in such mental health problems as schizophrenia in adults, depression, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Additional problems possibly related to a Vitamin D deficiency include, to name a few:
Loss of interest in activities.
Isolation and withdrawal.
Lack of concentration, inability to focus.
Sleeping or eating disorders.
Suicidal tendencies or thoughts.
One note: although low levels of Vitamin D have been found in many with depression, there has been no definitive link between Vitamin D deficiency and depression, and, at present, no indication that Vitamin D supplementation or increase improves depression.
