What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a nutrient that our body needs to function properly. Vitamin D is special since it’s a nutrient that our body can make, but also one that we can get through the food we eat. Vitamin D, along with calcium, is a key component in making healthy bones. Beyond healthy bones, the benefits of Vitamin D also includes combating infections and helping reduce inflammation?

However, Vitamin D is also unique in that it is relatively difficult compared to other vitamins to get through food. Thankfully, your body can make its own Vitamin D. The production of this home-grown Vitamin is boosted by exposure to sunlight. The more sun you get, the more Vitamin D your body starts to make. This helps stave off the dangers of a Vitamin D deficiency.

What is Vitamin D Deficiency?

If you aren’t getting enough Vitamin D in your diet, you may start to develop symptoms of deficiency. However, unlike some vitamin deficiencies, lacking in Vitamin D can cause more subtle effects, mainly manifesting as a greater risk of other medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, or asthma in children. The most surefire sign of Vitamin D deficiency is the weakness of bones and muscles - the condition known as rickets is often associated with this vitamin deficiency.

The Tricky Part of Vitamin D

Vitamin D has always been a bit tricky when it comes to adopting healthy practices like going vegan, or partaking in vegan juice cleanses. This is because unlike a majority of vitamins, Vitamin D is somewhat rare in fruits and veggies. The best place to find Vitamin D in nature is actually in certain fish and surprisingly in animal products such as milk and egg yolks.

Some medical professionals have used this as a reason to warn people off of going vegan, even for short periods of time. However, this is pretty alarmist, for a few reasons. For one thing, while Vitamin D may not be naturally common in many fruits and vegetables, it is often added to orange juice and cereals.

You shouldn't underestimate your body’s ability to maintain Vitamin D levels with sunshine. Making sure to get a safe level of sunlight is a good way to keep your Vitamin D levels up - this is why it's unhealthy to shut yourself indoors too much. Understandably, this naturally can be more difficult if you are in a part of the world where some seasons have long sunless stretches.

Vitamin D and Blended Juice Cleanses

So should you be worried about suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency if you decide to take on a blended juice cleanse during the less sunny months? Short answer - most likely not. Blended juice cleanses don’t often last long enough for there to be any notable side effects from deficiencies in particular vitamins. The benefits you’ll get from the blended juice cleanse, in detoxing your system, will generally outweigh any risks.

The one exception is if your doctor or other medical professional has warned you specifically about an existing Vitamin D deficiency. In this case, this is an obstacle that can easily be overcome through the incorporation of Vitamin D supplements into your diet.

In short, maintaining Vitamin D levels is important. And it's also important to listen to your body if you aren’t feeling well. But this shouldn’t turn into a major concern blocking your detox plans. From healthy foods, oral vitamins and other supplements you can reach healthy Vitamin D levels. So go ahead and enjoy your cleanse and the weight loss it brings!