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Here’s How You Can Improve Your Exercising Strength With Just One Vitamin

Maintaining normal vitamin D levels in the body is considered important for optimal bone health, but recent research has now concluded that vitamin D has a major impact on the efficient performance of our heart and lungs as well.

The research focused on studying the impact of vitamin D in increasing the capacity of an average exercise session. Published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, it suggests that people who have sufficient levels of Vitamin D in the body are fitter compared to those with lower levels, especially when it comes to exercising.

The Methodology of the Research

Our fitness levels can be assessed by measuring the capacity of our cardio-respiratory system. The efficiency of our cardio-respiratory system depends on how efficiently oxygen is being supplied by the lungs and heart to the muscles, which becomes essential during a workout. Hence, of course, those with a healthier cardio-respiratory system tend to outperform those with a compromised one, something which becomes quite evident if workout performance is assessed.

The efficiency of our cardio-respiratory system depends on how efficiently oxygen is being supplied by the lungs and heart to the muscles

The research performed tabulated the race, sex, age, BMI and ethnicity of participants and measured them side by side, and the results showed that those participants who had higher levels of vitamin D in their body were 2.9 times more physically fit compared to those with lower levels of this vitamin. Additionally, the research found this to be true for both women and men. The results also did not show any deviation for participants who were smokers or were suffering from diabetes or hypertension.

How to Get Optimal Amount of Vitamin D

Getting the sunshine vitamin is difficult during periods of extreme cold as the days are short and sunlight is in scarce amount. Our body can make this vitamin on its own when it is exposed to sunshine. However, in the absence of sunshine, the deficiency of this vitamin must be fulfilled through other food sources or through vitamin D supplements.

Why Is Vitamin D So Important

Vitamin D affects the activity of our cardio-respiratory system in many different ways. First, it facilitates muscle protein production and also helps in transporting phosphorus and calcium to cells. Then, as research has shown, it enables better functionality of our fast twitch muscles which enable us to fight off fatigue, especially during fast paced exercises.

Vitamin D affects the activity of our cardio-respiratory system in many different ways

Criticism of the Study

Although the findings of this research were considered authentic by different authorities, however some have pointed out a few of its limitations. Dr. Stella Volpe from Drexel University partially agreed with the findings of the research in defining the role of vitamin D in the synthesis of protein in the muscles. To verify its findings, she conducted her own research in studying the role of vitamin D on fitness levels, and pointed out the limitations of the previous research by stating that it had been conducted at a single point of time and hence omitted cross-sectional data.

This is somewhat true when we consider the fact that although the study did streamline the factors upon which it assessed the fitness levels of participants, it did not take into consideration the vitamin D levels already present in the subjects.

The fact that vitamin D levels in some participants could’ve been higher than others has not been considered, and also the study did not gather any data about how they get their daily dose of Vitamin D in the first place. It is possible that the participants with higher levels of vitamin D in the body and greater cardio-respiratory efficiency had greater exposure to sunshine as compared to other participants who relied on their vitamin D intake through supplements and diet, which could’ve made for another very interesting finding of this study.

the results showed that those participants who had higher levels of vitamin D in their body were 2.9 times more physically fit compared to those with lower levels

What is considered normal or too high a level of vitamin D in the body is still a matter of great debate. Many doctors believe 30 ng/mL in the body is the normal level, while others believe that 10 ng/mL to 15 ng/mL are also healthy-enough as long as a person maintains a healthy diet and moderate exercise levels.

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