Importance of Vitamin D When Trying to Conceive
Vitamin D is a powerful anti-oxidant that
can protect sperm and eggs against genetic
damage and in some cases, can improve
ovulation in women with Polycycstic
Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
Vitamin D (especially in the supplemental
form of D3) is essential for the
production of estrogen in the body, and
plays a critical role in maintaining
optimal health (with new research finding
that vitamin D may protect against colon
cancer, breast and other forms of cancer).
Your body produces vitamin D from exposure
to sunlight, and in particular to the
ultraviolet light frequencies emitted by
the sun.
Ideally, 15-20 minutes of sun exposure per
day is required to maintain healthy levels
of vitamin D in your body. This means that
you can go out into the sun in the early
morning or later afternoon hours for about
20 minutes without any sunscreen.
Avoid being in direct sunlight during the
peak hours of sun, which increases your
chances of getting sun burned — which you
will want to avoid.
If you supplement with vitamin D3, a
recommended dosage of 1,000-2,000 i.u.
(international units) is an appropriate
level for most people. You may take 2,000
i.u. per day in darker winter months (if
you live in an climate with long, dark
winters).
Personally, I take 2,000 i.u. per day of
vitamin D3 from November to May, being
that I currently live in a climate with
low light in the winter. In the summer
months, I take 2,000 i.u. approximately
every other day, depending upon my sun
exposure.
Remember, vitamin D is fat soluble, so it
can build up to toxic levels in the body
if you supplment with high doses over
time. Your doctor can give you a simple
blood test that determines your vitamin D
levels, if you are wondering what your
baseline number is.
One thing to also remember is,
conventional doctors are now recognizing
that most people are vitamin D deficient
(since most people work indoors,
regardless of where they live), which
makes it even more important to consider
vitamin D supplementation, or at least
building in more sun exposure with a
baseline vitamin D supplement taken every
other day.
If you decide to take vitamin D3 (the most
bio-available form) supplements, be sure
to include magnesium and calcium in your
diet. Vitamin D relies on these other minerals for its
absorption and it can leach these
minerals from the body if they are not
present.
P.S. If you are worried that you’ll “never” get
pregnant, or that it will take “forever”…then
pick up a copy of the Whole Body Fertility book.
This book (or e-book if you prefer) will help you
relax and focus on doing the things that matter
in your diet and lifestyle, to improve your
fertility.
See you there!
