One of the most well-known vitamins is Vitamin D. It takes part in several biological processes like the absorption of calcium and keeping the heart, muscles, and bones healthy.
Despite being an essential mineral, it is lacking in many individuals and this is simply because of its scarce occurrence in foods.
A low level of vitamin D can cause numerous health problems. In this article, we would discuss the sources, benefits, and deficiencies of vitamin D and answer the common question; Does vitamin D smell bad?
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a vital fat-soluble mineral. It is important for individuals of all ages and conditions. It plays a vital role in the proper functioning of the body, including regulating immune response and inflammation.
These particular vitamins can be created both internally and externally. Despite being called a vitamin, it is more a hormone or prohormone than a vitamin. Although there are various kinds of vitamin Ds, the most significant remains vitamin D3!
A better percentage of Vitamin D is gotten from the sunlight. The cholesterol in your system on exposure to sunlight changes into vitamin D. This vitamin is then transported to the various parts of the body where they perform diverse roles.
Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D has a lot of benefits for the human body. Here are some of these benefits;
- Vitamin D serves as a steroid hormone inside the body.
- It fosters the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which are required for maintaining the health of the bones and teeth.
- Lots of research has shown vitamin D to play a protective role against several diseases and conditions. Some of them include cancer, Type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and a couple of others.
- Vitamin D helps in the strengthening of bones and the prevention of rickets mostly in kids but also in adults.
- Lastly, this vitamin or prohormone has been said to aid in preventing cognitive impairment.
Other sources of Vitamin D
The sun remains the number one source of vitamin D, and luckily for us, it is abundant. However, there are other items you can take to boost the amount of this nutrient in your system.
Here are some of such:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Okra
- Soybeans
- Black beans
- Fish such as salmon and mackerel
- Fatty fish egg yolks
- Cheese
- Beef
- Liver
- Mushrooms
- Fortified juices
- Cereals fortified milk
These are some foods that could help raise your vitamin D level real quick!
Deficiency of vitamin D shortage
Different people absorb vitamin D at different rates. Some don’t absorb at all or very little, as they miss one or two enzymes needed to transform a cholesterol metabolite into vitamin D. This could lead to a shortage of vitamin D which results in defects like;
Osteoporosis
This is common amongst older people, most especially postmenopausal women. It is a condition where the bone becomes porous and weak. Small openings begin to develop inside of it, which could easily lead to fracture and dislocations.
Loss of taste and smell
This is a slow progression and declining smelling and tasting abilities with age. Vitamin deficiency never shows up immediately, but takes a while. Hence, it is common in aged people.
It's important to soak up the sun in your early days or better still, take food and supplements rich in vitamin D. Run a blood vitamin D level test regularly to determine if the vitamin you consumed is enough to meet the vitamin D your body needs.
Does Vitamin D smell bad?
Vitamin D does not have much of a smell on its own, But could get a foul or fishy smell when oils like flax oil, cod liver oil, or fish oil, are added to the soft gel for better absorption.
Vitamin D where coconut oil, safflower oil, and olive oil are used is popular for not just a longer shelf life but also no odour. A vitamin D with an unpleasant smell gives a cause for concern as there is a high chance it has gone bad.
Conclusion
Vitamin D smells awful when it is closer to expiring than giving its rich benefits. For long-lasting food supplements and multivitamins, you might want to take a look at the Chewwies shop!