Health - Wellness
The Surprising Way Vitamin D Supplements May Affect Your Sleep
By NICOLE LAMARCO
About 50 percent of people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency, a condition that can put you at risk for developing heart disease, type two diabetes, depression, autoimmune diseases, and more. Vitamin D supplements are a good way to up your intake, and can even have positive effects on your quality of sleep.
A 2017 study in Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine showed that low vitamin D levels can cause sleep disturbances, poor sleep quality, and shorter sleep durations. Taking vitamin D supplements with your breakfast is the best way to ensure that your body absorbs the vitamin and your sleep quality improves.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D supplements is between 600 to 800 IUs, but you can take up to 4,000 IUs if your doctor recommends it. Beyond taking supplements, try eating foods rich in vitamin D, such as tuna, mackerel, salmon, egg yolks, and beef liver; fattier foods like avocado also help, since vitamin D is fat-soluble.