High blood pressure affects millions of people, and is a life threatening condition for many. Recent studies show that low levels of Vitamin D could be the main cause. One such study, mentioned on Epochtimes.com, states that, “men with low levels of Vitamin D were found to be six times more likely to suffer from hypertension (1)” compared to those with normal levels.

The same study says that women with low vitamin levels had twice the chance of having high blood pressure. After hearing the results of these new studies, it becomes clear that vitamin D can be a significant factor contributing to high blood pressure. It is also apparent that making sure your body has the vitamin D that it needs, will reduce the chance you will develop high blood pressure.

Where Does Vitamin D come From?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that can be found in many foods we eat, or created in the skin when we are exposed to sunlight. Sunlight is a direct source of Vitamin D, and is where most people get the Vitamin D their body needs. When you are exposed to sunlight, your skin absorbs Vitamin D and synthesizes it. You body can get enough Vitamin D in as little as 10 minutes in the sun. During winter months however, people spend more time indoors, and less time in the sun, leaving their body deficient in Vitamin D.

As mentioned earlier, Vitamin D can also be found in many of the foods that we eat. Milk is often fortified with Vitamin D; since it helps the body absorb the calcium in the milk. Vitamin D is also found in fish, eggs, and cod liver oil. If you do not consume these foods regularly, and are not exposed to enough sunlight, you are most likely deficient in Vitamin D. People, who are Vegans, often find it difficult to obtain Vitamin D from their diet, since they do not consume any animal products. This means they need to expose themselves to more sunlight to get the Vitamin D they need.

What does Vitamin D Do?

Vitamin D is needed to help our body absorb calcium. Calcium keeps our bones strong and prevents many disorders, such as Osteoporosis, and other bone disorders. When Vitamin D is absorbed by the skin, or obtained from the food we eat, it is transported to the liver and kidneys, which transform the vitamin into Hormones.

When Vitamin D is Not Enough

Making sure your body has the Vitamin D that it needs is essential to your health. If you are not getting the minimum amounts of vitamin D you need, you are putting yourself at risk for a variety of problems, including high blood pressure. If you are suffering from high blood pressure, and getting the essential Vitamin D, there are supplements that can help.

Sources:

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-4-12/54025.html

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080107/vitamin-d-deficiency-may-hurt-heart

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080623/risk-of-dying-linked-to-low-vitamin-d