The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that almost one in four Australians has a significant vitamin D deficiency¹, and other countries report that nearly 50% of their populations are deficient.² Sourcing vitamin D3 from our diets, as well as sun exposure, is simply essential.
Foods that are naturally rich in vitamin D3 include beef liver, egg yolks and naturally fatty fish, like salmon, sardines and tuna. These foods don’t appeal to everyone, especially kids, and aren’t viable for those eating plant-based diets. In these cases, a plant-based vitamin D3 supplement can come to the rescue.
Why all the fuss about this nutrient?
Here are the top 5 reasons to include Vitamin D3 in your diet:
Immune Support
Vitamin D3 plays several important roles in supporting immunity and influencing how we respond to infections. Studies have shown that supplemental vitamin D3, especially for kids and the elderly, can enhance immune cell function and provide immune support.³ Therefore it makes sense that a high-quality plant-sourced vitamin D3 for children can make all the difference in fighting off those inevitable playground illnesses. So if you are searching for the best vegan D3 in Australia for children, consider one that is tasteless, easy to administer in drop form, and sourced from algae.
Tooth and Bone Development
One of vitamin D3’s main roles in the body is to assist the absorption of calcium, which in turn is vital for the growth of strong teeth and bones. Without enough vitamin D3, even a calcium-rich diet may not support healthy growth.
Enriching Plant-Based Diets
Most dietary sources of vitamin D3 are animal-based, and most supplements source vitamin D3 from lanolin, a substance derived from sheep’s wool. This can mean that vegan and vegetarian folks can easily miss out on getting enough vitamin D3 to support their health. Thankfully, plant-based vitamin D3, derived from algae, can offer all the vegan supplement benefits to us grown-ups, and vegan vitamin D3 for kids can take care of the little ones, too.
Making Up for Lost Sun
Vitamin D is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ for good reason. One of the main ways we can source, and maintain, ample vitamin D is through exposure to UVB rays from the sun. They work to convert a substance on the outer layer of our skin, 7-dehydrocholesterol, into pre-vitamin D3, which our liver converts to calcifediol (25(OH)D), and then our kidneys finally convert to calcitriol, otherwise known as vitamin D3. This is the active nutrient our body then uses for a multitude of health benefits and functions.
But the truth is, it’s almost impossible to be truly ‘sun safe’ and still get an ample supply of vitamin D, and we can miss out on this source in the winter months too. Rich food sources and/or a quality plant-based vitamin D3 supplement can help make up for the lost light.
Muscle Strength
Vitamin D also plays important roles in maintaining muscle strength and coordination in the body, making it a ‘whole body vitamin’ worthy of prioritising in you – and your family’s – lives.
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