Vitamin D is called a vitamin, but it is actually a hormone that is produced in the skin under the influence of sunlight.
Particularly during winter months, people sit inside all day and can easily acquire a vitamin D deficiency. If that happens, you’d better take vitamin D supplement to avoid the physical and psychological complaints which a shortage of this vitamin can lead to.
Vitamin D contributes to:
- strong bones and teeth
- strong and supple muscles
- a healthy and balanced immune system
- reduction of fat storage in the adipose tissues
- proper functioning of the heart and blood vessels
- healthy blood pressure
- a good barrier function for the intestinal wall
- proper function of the nervous system and brain
- mental resilience
- good eye condition
- healthy cells and tissues
- counteracting the ageing processes
Correct balance between vitamin D and minerals
Vitamins and minerals need to be present in the body in balanced ratios. For vitamin D to do its work, the body has to have specific amounts of vitamin K2 and magnesium. Taking vitamin D alone automatically leads to a vitamin K and magnesium deficiency.
High doses of vitamin D, as many therapists currently prescribe for certain conditions, cause the body to use all its stored magnesium. This happens because taking vitamin D causes the body to absorb more calcium and when the body absorbs more calcium, it then needs more magnesium. Calcium and magnesium work together in the body and since many people already have a mild magnesium deficiency, adding vitamin D in high doses causes the body to consume all its magnesium at a rapid pace.
Consequences of Magnesium Deficiency
Magnesium deficiency can cause all kinds of problems and symptoms, including insomnia, shakiness, muscle cramps, anxiety, palpitations, constipation and headaches. And if one no longer has enough magnesium, the vitamin D cannot do its job properly. That’s why it’s important when taking vitamin D to also take a high-quality magnesium supplement.
Vitamin K
Many people are prescribed vitamin D plus calcium for osteoporosis. However, although vitamin D ensures that the extra calcium is absorbed into the blood, vitamin K is also needed to ensure that the calcium actually ends up in the bones and does not calcify the wrong tissues. Without the vitamin K, arteriosclerosis could result.
Calcium is sufficiently present in our food and water, but it is the combination of vitamins D, K and magnesium that ensures that calcium in the body can do its job and not cause problems.
The absorption of vitamins and minerals
Vitamins D, K and magnesium supplements are very difficult for the body to absorb. Only a small percentage of these supplements are absorbed into the blood and even less into the cells. The answer to this is liposomal supplements which are more than 98% absorbed by the cells. In liposomal supplements, the active vitamins or minerals are packaged in fat globules (liposomes). The liposomes are transported through the body directly to the body cells and completely absorbed there. In fact these substances work so well that it is no longer necessary to use high doses. A liposomal supplement can be administered at much lower doses because it is more than 98% absorbed into the cells.