Our way of life leads to various deficiencies.
As you undoubtedly know, natural and balanced food is not enough today to meet the body's full nutrient needs. In addition to the poverty of soils and foods (even organic), our way of life is no longer the same as it was a few decades ago.
Indeed, our perfectly calibrated and frantic days, along with the incessant race against time, are reasons for chronic stress in many people. Added to this is the proliferation of electromagnetic waves around us, which has greatly degraded the quality of our sleep, both quantitatively and qualitatively. It's worth noting that in 1900, we slept two hours more than today, and in 1950, one hour more. However, what's troublesome is that lack of sleep leads to a deficiency in minerals, trace elements, and vitamins.
While most current deficiencies affect omega-3s, trace elements, and B vitamins, there is another one that is essential for the proper functioning of the body: it is vitamin D.
Why is it so crucial for our health?
Vitamin D enables the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus. In addition to this, it also contributes to healthy bone structure and teeth. A deficiency in vitamin D leads to rickets in children and decalcification of the skeleton in adults. This means that you can have as much calcium as you want, but if you have a vitamin D deficiency, it's completely useless.
For many years, various studies have shown that this vitamin has a multitude of other benefits! They have demonstrated a link between the absence of vitamin D in the body and a multitude of pathologies such as cancers, cardiovascular problems, or neurodegenerative issues such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or ENT infections.
Where can it be found?
Vitamin D is found in sunlight and food. Indeed, the latter is mainly produced by the body under the direct action of UVB rays on the skin. To ensure an adequate level, you should expose yourself to the sun with bare legs for half an hour every day. However, the sunlight must be significant enough for the action to be optimal. Weather conditions are even more critical for individuals with darker skin tones.
As for food, there are two types of vitamin D. First, there is vitamin D2 found in plants, and then there is vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is found in animal products such as veal liver, butter, sardines, or eggs. It's vitamin D3 that should be chosen since D2 is assimilated half as well by the body.
Why do nearly 4/5 of French people have vitamin D deficiencies?
For residents of sun-deprived areas, it's normal to experience deficiencies, but they are also found in individuals living in the south. The reason is the presence of UVB blockers in the majority of sunscreens or other products. This prevents the passage of vitamin D.
Furthermore, the significant decrease in the consumption of animal-derived foods over the past twenty years, due to fear of cholesterol but also intensive farming practices, has gradually closed the second door for this nutrient.