Vitamin D: a new discovery

Vitamin D: a new discovery

A study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, conducted in Spain on covid patients and found that 80% (8 out of 10 patients) had a vitamin D deficiency. It seems to be a panacea in the treatment of the infection from covid and can also be defined as the vitamin of sunlight, as only 20% is assimilated with the diet.

Nevertheless, the most important finding is that the more marked the deficiency of this vitamin, the greater were the inflammatory markers linked to severe infection in the patients' blood.

What is vitamin D?

1. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, which the body releases in small doses.

2. It is mostly synthesized by our body, as our skin absorbs sunrays.

3. It also helps to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.

4. It also improves mood by limiting stress.

The lack of it, however, mainly affects people who do not sufficiently expose themselves to the sun. The daily requirement of vitamin D is 400 units per day. Doses can vary and go up to 1,000 units per day depending on the case. It starts from 200 units per day for children and adults up to 50 years old, goes to 400 units for people aged between 51 and 70 years, and reaches the 600 units recommended for people over 70 years old.

What are the benefits of sunlight?

Exposure to sunlight gives us a feeling of well-being and tempore: it is the result of a complex interaction between the physiological system and the sun's rays. Giving ourselves a walk in the open air or a few moments of relaxation in the sun benefits our physical and mental health. The heat stimulates the resurfacing of pleasant sensations and positive memories. It is essential to focus on your heart rate and breathing while staying in the sun. The mind wakes up and creativity increases. There is also a therapy called "Heliotherapy": it is a therapeutic science that is based on exposure to sunlight for the treatment of various types of ailments. What other region if not Apulia to give us a few minutes in the sun?

Apulia: land of sea, boundless hills and plains. It attracts visitors and tourists for its coasts with clear water (more than 800 kilometers between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas), but also for its cities of art, its country farms with olive groves and its products with an ancient flavor of tradition. Taking a walk along its coasts or in national parks such as the Gargano National Park, gives unparalleled emotions and sensations.

Obviously, studies on the influence of vitamin D with Covid-19 are still ongoing. There is no definitive cure, but let us not lie to ourselves: who doesn't like sunbathing for 5 minutes?