Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins you can take
Can boosting productivity be as easy as taking a vitamin?
It’s the tail end of winter, but the days are still short and the sunshine is minimal. During this season we lack the natural light that we get during the spring and summer seasons. A great way to boost some of the healthy affects of sunshine during the darker months is by taking supplement forms of Vitamin D, often dubbed the “sunshine vitamin”.
Vitamin D is naturally created in the body in response to sunlight. It regulates the immune system, is essential to maintaining blood calcium levels and bone density, and has been reported in studies to stave off certain types of cancers, autoimmune disorders and multiple sclerosis.
In several studies taken over 2007, Vitamin D was reported to lower the death rate of people over 50 by 7 per cent when 500 IU of vitamin D was consumed each day.
But the vitamin’s value may surpass general wellness and be a benefit to the business world as well.
In a soon to be published study, Minessotan pediatrician Dr. Greg Plotnikoff reports that Vitamin D not only helps in preventing many health issues, it can also aid in worker productivity.
In the study, Plotnikooff argues that an increase in the vitamin can save companies between $112 to $370 a year per employee in increased productivity and reduced sick days.
“Vitamin D may represent the single most cost-effective medical intervention we have today,” Plotnikooff said.
Although this is only one study looking into the added benefits of vitamin supplements, any added corporate gains at the hands of the supplements should be seen as a bonus compared to the very real health effects of boosting vitamin D levels.
The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that individuals consume 1000 IU of vitamin D each day, although the supplements are likely unnecessary during spring and summer months when enough sunlight is absorbed through the skin to synthesize the vitamin in the body naturally.
In addition to supplements, the vitamin can also be consumed by eating fish, liver, and eggs, all foods that naturally contain vitamin D. Other sources include fortified foods like milk, soy drinks, and orange juice.
For more information on workplace wellness initiatives, check out the February issue of Wellness Zone.