How to Boost Immunity With Vitamin D

As a child you probably drank lots of milk and in addition to milk mustaches, you were also providing your body with vitamin D and calcium. Vitamin D has been known for helping to strengthen bones and teeth. Some may be surprised to know that it also has many other health benefits.

Things You'll Need

• Vitamin D

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Instructions

• 1

  Find out the tolerable intake level of vitamin D for your age group. Although an overdose of vitamin D is not likely, toxic levels of vitamin D can cause calcium levels to abnormally increase, which may result in calcification of organs, bone loss, heart disease and kidney stones. For infants up to a year old, 25 mcg per day is a tolerable level of vitamin D. For children over a year old and adults, 50 mcg per day is a tolerable level of vitamin D.

• 2

  Take the recommended or tolerable level of vitamin D per day. You can get vitamin D from foods such as milk, egg yolk, fish such as salmon and sardines, cod liver oil, or you can take it in pill form. You can also get vitamin D from the sunlight’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

• 3

  Have the level of vitamin D in your blood tested during your annual physical check up. This is especially important if you plan on consuming more that the tolerable level of vitamin D or if you‘re concerned that you‘re not getting enough vitamin D. Your results will let you know if your vitamin D levels are low or high and what risks are associated with either of these extremes. Not having enough vitamin D or having too much vitamin D can both cause you health problems.

• 4

  Monitor your health and note any improvements after you start consuming the recommended amount of vitamin D. If taken in the recommended doses, vitamin D can help to regulate your blood pressure levels, prevent or protect against certain illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and decrease your risk of developing certain autoimmune diseases such as lupus, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, some cancers and multiple sclerosis.

• 5

  Pay attention to any medications you’re taking while you’re taking vitamin D. Some medicines can decrease the effectiveness of vitamin D by not allowing enough to be absorbed into the intestines. Speak with your doctor about possible medication or drug interactions with vitamin D.

• 6

  Take vitamin D in combination with other vitamins and minerals. Many vitamins work well together and your body needs more than one type of vitamin in order to stay healthy and function properly. Taking a multivitamin once daily can help to ensure that all of your vitamin needs are met.