All fooling aside, vitamin D insufficiency is more and more common which is an issue due to its importance in regulating around 1000 genes. Deficiency has been linked to consequences as diverse as depression to very poor bone health.
In the industrial revolution (also in some areas of the earth today) a disease termed rickets that caused deformed bone growth in kids was alarmingly prevalent, specifically in cities. However, kids of the same economic background in the country did not experience it. How could one vitamin influence so many functions?
Why Vitamin D should be in your emergency supplies
Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of several nutrients and modulates many hormones in the body. The range of human hormones is really extensive which includes testosterone, estrogen, growth hormones, and serotonin.
Testosterone and growth hormones particularly are essential for muscle recovery which could be a huge issue when bugging out. Serotonin is probably the most significant neurotransmitters for controlling brain function as well as feelings. There is even a concept for seasonal sadness linked to lower vitamin d amounts.
However the most vital function for people who have children is appropriate bone growth. Vitamin D controls the absorption of calcium, among other things and lack of vitamin D is the major reason behind rickets, a disease that causes forever distorted growth.
Even for those with no children, the benefits of having healthier bones in a post-apocalyptic world should be obvious. In case you can't move, you will find a difficult time surviving.
Different forms, different ways to get it
Vitamin D is a fat soluble molecule (like vitamin A) which means you can store it if you want to. There are 2 nutritional supplies of Vitamin D. D2, or ergocalciferol is primarily found in plants and D3, or cholecalciferol is primarily found in animal sources. Like vitamin A, the animal source is much more absorbable to the body.
The most effective method to supplement D vitamins, in home and in the field
Vitamin D is not a dietary vitamin in the most stringent sense since it could be synthesized by exposure of the human skin to sun rays. There are many reasons leading into how much exact time you would need to get the proper level including type of skin, latitude, time of the year and weather conditions however I was able to find a nifty calculator to figure out how much you will need.
It is bad news if your doomsday fortress of solitude happens to be a silo, underground complex or cave . However don't worry, for it is quite possible to supplement with vitamin D if essential as well. Cold water fish, meats, eggs as well as mushrooms are good sources of vitamin D as well.
If you want to use a supplement - D3 is the best with regards to shelf life as well as potency.
