After the Corona Virus Outbreak, vitamins have gained even more importance. Vitamins that strengthen the immune system and protect it from diseases are indispensable for our body. Especially as we enter the summer months, the importance of vitamin D has increased even more. The expert has warned that vitamin D deficiency will also negatively affect mental health. So what is vitamin D deficiency? What foods contain vitamin D? What diseases does vitamin D deficiency cause? Here are the curious ones…
Vitamin D deficiency is a problem that is thought to be associated with many physical and mental health disorders such as musculoskeletal pain, heart disorders, sleep disorders and depression. Depression manifests itself with symptoms such as unhappiness, reluctance, not being able to enjoy life, sleep and appetite changes, low energy, and difficulty in focusing for at least 2 weeks and most of the day. Psychiatrist Dr. Alime Burçin Şimşek stated that while depression may be due to many factors, vitamin deficiencies also have an effect on this disorder. Şimşek, who also has information to increase vitamin D, stated that citizens should go out to the sun and that fish and dairy products containing vitamin D should be consumed.
You may be facing a vitamin D deficiency
Psychiatrist Dr. Alime Burçin Şimşek, ‘Especially in these days when it is snowy, rainy and cloudy and we are longing for the sun, if you feel more tired, without energy, reluctant and unhappy than usual, you may be faced with Vitamin D. Scientific studies have shown that vitamin D levels of depressed patients are significantly lower than those of healthy individuals, while serotonin, also known as the happiness hormone among the people, increases when people are exposed to sunlight.
In studies conducted in our country, it is seen that vitamin D deficiency is observed at rates of up to 74%.
”To support mental and physical health, attention should be paid to eliminating our vitamin D deficiencies”.
Providing information on the elimination of vitamin D deficiencies, Dr. Şimşek said, “Contrary to other vitamins, vitamin D, which is more difficult to obtain through direct nutrition, is synthesized by 90% through sunlight, while it can only be obtained from foods consumed at 10% if it is not supplemented with sunlight. In order to increase vitamin D naturally, animal-based foods such as oily fish, dairy products and eggs containing vitamin D should be consumed in sufficient quantities.
Artificial light therapies and vitamin supplements applied by health professionals are used in the treatment in cases where external vitamin D supplementation is required, other than natural ways. Of course, our mental health cannot be separated from our physical health. Studies report that eliminating vitamin D deficiency can also reduce the risks associated with the corona virus. In order to support the mental and physical health of both yourself and our loved ones, attention should be paid to eliminating our vitamin D deficiencies,” he said.
What foods contain vitamin D?
Vitamin D is found in fish, especially tuna, milk, eggs, grain foods and mushrooms. Again, cheese, butter, yogurt, kefir are foods containing vitamin D. Vitamin D taken through diet is activated in the liver and kidneys and shows its effect in its active form.
