How Vitamin D can help you overcome Anxiety and Depression

In my last article, I wrote about the role vitamin D plays in your immune system and highlighted the fact that the white blood cells that make up a large part of your immune system have vitamin D receptors. Without a constant source of vitamin D your immune system cannot function properly.

Today I'm focusing on the role that vitamin D plays in your brain and how it can enhance your mood. Like white blood cells, your brain has vitamin D receptors and they are located in the parts of your brain associated with mood. Boosting your vitamin D levels has been shown to improve mood and be neuroprotective whereas low levels of vitamin D has been associated with anxiety, depression, dementia, psychosis and many other cognitive regressive illnesses.

Many researchers like myself are seeing a clear link between vitamin d and the hormone serotonin. Serotonin, or 5-HT, is the hormone associated with happiness. It is mainly found in the brain and contributes to wellbeing and happiness. Vitamin D helps to regulate and balance the chemical and hormonal structure in the brain.

In an ideal world, the earth wouldn't be tilted, there wouldn't be seasons and we'd be able to enjoy the sun all year round, but this isn't the case. It is possible to obtain vitamin D from foods like eggs, unpasteurised dairy, red meat and liver, but only in small amounts. Therefore, it is essential to supplement with the sunshine vitamin to stay healthy and keep the blues away.