Vitamin D supplements: the lousy business with the sun vitamin!

When the days get shorter again, it is only logical that we will all get less sun. For some, the mood worsens, headaches become more frequent and waves of colds slosh through the population. But why is that actually? And can Vitamin D supplements really help? We reveal how you can tell whether you have enough sun vitamins in your body and how you can ensure a balanced vitamin D level. Because: Even too much is not good – which does not prevent some manufacturers from doing good business.

Vitamin D supplements: what does vitamin D do in the body?

The vitamin, which is also classified as a hormone due to its properties, helps the body to absorb calcium, strengthens and stabilizes the muscles and is the driver of various metabolic processes. The most immediate benefit for our immune system is the activation of our defenses. If there is a vitamin D deficiency, our killer cells remain in sleep mode and we are prone to colds and viral infections.

Vitamin D Deficiency? These symptoms suggest it

If you have any of the following symptoms, this indicates a vitamin D deficiency.

1. A weakened immune system is the result of a vitamin D deficiency. This leads to a higher risk of catching a cold or catching a virus. The result is more frequent illness.
2. The muscles are less efficient, which is also evident in sports. Muscle pain that is reminiscent of sore muscles as well as more frequent falls and a shaky feeling arise.
3. Since calcium can be better incorporated into the bone through a healthy vitamin D level, a deficiency leads to porous bones. This phenomenon occurs especially during menopause. The result: osteoporosis.
4. Depressive moods, the classic winter blues, are often the result of too little vitamin D.
5. The same applies to poor concentration and reduced memory.
6. Sleep disorders are part of the spectrum of symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
7. You should also have headaches that do not otherwise plague you or that plague you significantly less often.
8. Cravings? Yes! Cravings are a signal from the body that a certain substance is missing in the body, but that it urgently needs.

Don’t let yourself be unsettled: In the end, your doctor will be able to determine whether you really suffer from a vitamin D deficiency – after a blood test in the laboratory. Your doctor can help you quickly and give you security. If a vitamin D deficiency is diagnosed, your doctor will discuss treatment with you.

Too much vitamin D can harm you

However, caution should be exercised when consuming vitamin D. Overdosing with food supplements is possible and this can have very unpleasant consequences. Important: It is enough for healthy people to build up their vitamin D level in the sun with time. Because the sun vitamin – that’s why it’s called that – is produced by the body itself through sunlight! This can then not be overdosed. If the memory is full, the body simply stops producing more. The vitamin D that has accumulated over the summer usually lasts for many months into winter. Only in the very dark winter, when you are hardly outside in daylight, or if you have a certain pre-existing illness, it can make sense to supplement with food or even tablets.

Although it is forbidden by law to add vitamin D to foods without authorization, many manufacturers aggressively advertise the sun vitamin. With the exception of margarine and other spreadable fats, all manufacturers need a permit for their products if they want to fortify them with vitamin D.

So far so good. But the reality looks different. In the supermarkets you can find products from well-known manufacturers that add vitamin D, but lack the necessary approval. That is what the employees of the Bavarian Consumer Protection Agency found out. In the case of 13 products, the additives even exceed the maximum permitted limit. Of course, this harbors the risk of overdosing, especially in combination with other products. Even with a small overdose over a short period of time, the following symptoms can occur.

• headache
• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• strong thirst
• Cardiac arrhythmias

In severe cases, multiple overdoses can even lead to kidney damage and permanent cardiac arrhythmias. There is an increased risk, especially in children and the elderly. This is precisely why “drinks, smoothies, teas and sweets with added vitamin D have no place in retail.” This is the conclusion reached by Jutta Saumweber, Head of the Food and Nutrition Division at the Bavarian Consumer Center.

These foods and their manufacturers do not obey the law

The consumer advocates have published a list that makes the sinners public. We want to help you regulate your vitamin D balance in a healthy and sensible way. We have therefore decided to list some significant and well-known products that do not adhere to the specifications and add vitamin D to their products without approval and control. You can see the entire list on the website of the Bavarian Consumer Center. Of 112 tested products that use vitamin D supplements, 68 had no approval.

• Amecke
  + Vitamin D for the immune system
  for him
  for her
• high C
  Plus big & strong
  Plus sun vitamin D
• Innocent ginger
  Turmeric Power
  Power sharp
• Rotbäckchen
  Good start
  Solar power

Dairy products

• Actimel
  Botanicals (green apple, kiwi & aloe vera)
  Classic with no added sugar
  strawberry
  Yogurt for your immune system blueberry
  Superfruits (Mango, Turmeric & Goji)
  Superfruits (pomegranate)
  vanilla

Milk substitutes

• Alpro
  Barista oats
  Barista soy
  Oat drink
  Almond ring
  Soy yogurt alternative nature
  Soy drink chocolate
• Oatly
  Oat barista
  Oat calcium
  Oat cocoa

Cereals

• Milupa
  Children’s cereal fruits
  Muesli bars for pregnant women Berry mix

Some manufacturers are repeat offenders and keep appearing negatively in reporting. When buying the products, pay attention to the information provided by the manufacturer and calculate the consumption of the vitamin D contained. The recommended daily dose for a healthy adult is 20 micrograms (µg) per day in addition to food or food supplements. The latter must be in consultation with your family doctor and not through the profiteering of the industry.

The context or relevance of Vitamin D against Covid-19 Incidentally, it has been examined several times. Be sure to find out more about this as well. Strengthen Your Immune System! In our gallery we give you tips on how to do it.

It is essential to pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the dosage of the sun vitamin. If you have any of the above symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, see your doctor for a check-up. The same applies to the dangerous overdose. Stay healthy, soak up as much sun as possible and eat a balanced diet. Then we will make it through the cold season.

In the video we help you to find your way around the jungle of nutritional supplements better.

Feel free to read below, for more insight on how Vitamin D works in the bodyto understand what the vitamin can do.

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