When we think of vitamin D, we often think about strong bones and staying healthy during cold and flu season.
But vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” does even more—it can also help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range, which is good for your heart.
Our bodies make vitamin D when sunlight hits our skin. We can also get it from foods like fatty fish (such as salmon), dairy products, foods with added vitamin D, and from supplements.
While most people know that vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium for strong bones, it also plays a role in keeping blood vessels healthy and supporting the heart.
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of our arteries as it flows through the body. If this pressure stays too high for too long, it leads to a condition called high blood pressure, or hypertension. High blood pressure increases the risk of serious problems like heart disease and stroke.
Scientists have found that people who don’t have enough vitamin D in their bodies are more likely to have high blood pressure. They are still studying exactly how vitamin D helps, but they have some good ideas.
One idea is that vitamin D affects a body system called the “renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system,” or RAAS for short. This system helps control blood pressure and how much water your body holds onto.
When RAAS is too active, it can raise your blood pressure. Vitamin D seems to help calm this system down by lowering a chemical called renin, which may help prevent blood pressure from going too high.
Vitamin D may also help your blood vessels stay flexible. When blood vessels are flexible and can relax easily, blood flows more smoothly, and your heart doesn’t have to work as hard. This helps keep your blood pressure steady and your heart healthy.
Even though low levels of vitamin D are linked to higher blood pressure, taking vitamin D supplements doesn’t always help lower blood pressure in everyone. This means that vitamin D is just one part of a much bigger picture.
Blood pressure is affected by many things, including what you eat, how active you are, your weight, your family history, and how much vitamin D you get.
To keep your blood pressure at a healthy level, it’s important to live a heart-healthy lifestyle. That means eating a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, limiting salty foods, staying active, keeping a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking.
Getting enough vitamin D—from the sun, from food, or from supplements—can also be part of this healthy routine.
In short, vitamin D is not just for your bones—it may also help your heart by supporting healthy blood pressure. While scientists continue to study this connection, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D to help your body stay strong and your heart stay healthy.
So next time you enjoy a sunny day or eat a vitamin D-rich meal, remember—you’re not just helping your bones. You may also be giving your heart some extra care.
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