Skip to content
Wellness Blog
Here Are the 9 Vital Functions of Vitamin D for Your Health
Vitamin D, which is technically a hormone rather than a vitamin, is a crucial nutrient. Unfortunately, many Americans – even those who eat a good diet – are deficient in vitamin D.¹ Though definitions of vitamin D deficiency can vary, experts agree that it has nearly reached epidemic status. Analysis of the ongoing national survey data from the US Centers for Disease Control indicates that a majority of Americans may not be getting sufficient vitamin D. One way to get a natural vitamin D boost is from exposure to sunlight. But since we're wearing more sunscreen while outside and spending more time inside, our levels of vitamin D have fallen in recent decades. Why does that matter? Some research has linked vitamin D deficiency to serious, long-term health issues.² Those who think of vitamin D only as the “sunshine vitamin” may fail to fully understand the significant ways vitamin D affects their brain, body and overall health.³ Let's take a closer look at how vitamin D works in key areas of the brain and body, as well as how to increase levels of this essential vitamin...naturally! Here Are 9 Vital Functions of Vitamin D Immunity Vitamin D receptors are found all over the body, including the immune cells. Research has clearly shown that vitamin D deficiency is part of the seasonal nature of cold and flu outbreaks⁴ – less sunlight means less vitamin D, which can lead to lower immunity and more illness. Bones It’s well-documented that vitamin D is essential for the proper absorption of calcium, and it’s been shown to greatly reduce fracture risk in two ways. First, it helps with the formation of stronger bones; second, vitamin D helps improve balance and prevent falls by enhancing muscle contraction.⁵ Muscles One of the byproducts of vitamin D’s breakdown, called 1,25(OH)2D, enters muscle cells and affects the nucleus. Once there, the vitamin D metabolite enhances the cell’s contraction ability. Since muscles work by contraction and relaxation, a muscle’s ability to contract is essential to its strength and response to outside forces. As such, vitamin D helps make muscles stronger in a very direct way. Lungs As many studies indicate, vitamin D plays a role in keeping our lungs healthy due to vitamin D possessing a range of anti-inflammatory properties – with greater concentrations of vitamin D resulting in greater lung health benefits.⁶ Heart Research has demonstrated an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels in the blood and high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension). In other words, the lower the vitamin D, the higher the blood pressure. The excess strain and resulting damage from high blood pressure can cause the coronary arteries serving the heart to slowly narrow and harden, greatly increasing the risk of a heart attack. Kidneys Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it helps to regulate kidney function and plays a very beneficial role in treating serious kidney issues.⁷ Mood When it comes to being happy, the scientific evidence is clear. The lower your vitamin D levels, the more likely you are to feel blue rather than happy. Vitamin D deficiency has long been associated with higher incidences of low mood. Interestingly, in a 2014 study, the positive effect of vitamin D3 on mood was comparable to the effects of the anti-depressants.⁸ Weight Loss When you don’t have enough vitamin D, you can feel hungry all the time, no matter how much you eat. That's because low levels of vitamin D can interfere with the effectiveness of leptin, the appetite hormone that tells you when you're full. When vitamin D is replenished and back to normal levels, leptin’s actions are restored, thus creating feelings of satiety and aiding in weight loss. Cognitive Function In the past few years, many studies have linked shortage of vitamin D with cognitive issues in older men and women. Research has demonstrated that vitamin D has a variety of neuroprotective roles, including helping to rid the brain of beta-amyloid, an abnormal protein that is believed to be a major cause of severe memory issues.⁹ Other studies have shown that seniors with very low levels of vitamin D are at an increased risk of serious, long-term memory issues. Recommended Daily Vitamin D In the US, the current recommended daily dose of vitamin D is 600 IU. However, most experts agree that this is well below the physiological needs of most individuals. Some experts have suggested that all adults should take at least 2000 IU of vitamin D daily, but for many people, this daily dose doesn’t raise their vitamin D levels into a healthy range. What Can Help? BrainMD offers two high-quality, ultra-pure vitamin D formulas: Vitamin D3 5000 Vitamin D3 5000 delivers 5,000 IU of your body’s preferred form (cholecalciferol) in one high-potency capsule—supporting brain function, emotional well-being, immune strength, and bone health.* Vitamin D3 + K2 This powerful combination of vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) and vitamin K2 (as MK-7) helps strengthen bones, promote cardiovascular health, fight oxidative stress, support the immune system, preserve cognitive function and more.* Let the Sunshine (Vitamin) In! These powerful vitamins work hard to promote strong bones, support cognitive functioning, and maintain a healthy circulatory system.* Try Vitamin D3 5000 and Vitamin D3 + K2 today!* At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen. References: 1. Cui, A., Xiao, P., Ma, Y., Fan, Z., Zhou, F., Zheng, J., & Zhang, L. (2022). Prevalence, trend, and predictor analyses of vitamin D deficiency in the US population, 2001–2018. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 965376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.965376 2. Holick, M. F., & Chen, T. C. (2008). Vitamin D deficiency: A worldwide problem with health consequences. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87(4), 1080S–1086S. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/87.4.1080S 3. Aranow, C. (2011). Vitamin D and the immune system. Journal of Investigative Medicine, 59(6), 881–886. https://doi.org/10.231/JIM.0b013e31821b8755 4. Cannell, J. J., Vieth, R., Umhau, J. C., Holick, M. F., Grant, W. B., Madronich, S., Garland, C. F., & Giovannucci, E. (2006). Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiology and Infection, 134(6), 1129–1140. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268806007175 5. Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Dawson-Hughes, B., Willett, W. C., Staehelin, H. B., Bazemore, M. G., Zee, R. Y., & Wong, J. B. (2004). Effect of vitamin D on falls: A meta-analysis. JAMA, 291(16), 1999–2006. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.16.1999 6. Hughes, D. A., & Norton, R. (2009). Vitamin D and respiratory health. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 158(1), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.04001.x 7. Williams, S., Malatesta, K., & Norris, K. (2009). Vitamin D and chronic kidney disease. Ethnicity & Disease, 19(4 Suppl 5), S5–8–S5–11. 8. Spedding, S. (2014). Vitamin D and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing studies with and without biological flaws. Nutrients, 6(4), 1501–1518. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6041501 9. Banerjee, A., Khemka, V. K., Ganguly, A., Roy, D., Ganguly, U., & Chakrabarti, S. (2015). Vitamin D and Alzheimer’s disease: Neurocognition to therapeutics. International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2015, 192747. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/192747
Learn more
Stay Healthy This Summer On-the-Go with Daily Vitamin Packs
Warmer weather is here, so it’s a great time to head outdoors for some fun in the sun. Getting outside is important for everyone, especially for those who live a sedentary lifestyle or those who’ve been cooped up at home for the last several months. Benefits of Outdoor Activities Whether you enjoy jogging, horseback riding, or just a long walk, being outdoors can have an overall positive effect on your brain and body. Physical activity also has been associated with improved mood and a more optimistic outlook on life. Aerobic exercise, sufficient to make you sweat for 30 minutes, increases blood flow to your brain as well as your muscles and other tissues. This helps deliver nutrients and remove waste products. It can even increase the growth factor BDNF which promotes improved brain function. Regardless of which outdoor activity you choose, here are some tips to help streamline your fun time while on the go this summer… 4 Ways to Stay Healthy This Summer On-the-Go 1. Stay Hydrated Your brain is 80% water, so anything that dehydrates it (such as too much caffeine or alcohol) should be avoided. Even mild dehydration can impair performance in tasks that require attention, immediate memory skills, and physical performance. Dehydration is also associated with brain atrophy, poor concentration, memory difficulties, and increased sensitivity to pain. It’s recommended that you drink plenty of water each day to keep your brain and body adequately hydrated. The current recommendations from Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the U.S. National Academies are that women consume at least 91 ounces of water and men at least 125 ounces daily, from their foods, beverages, and drinking water. Running out of water can lead to dehydration, heatstroke, and even death. Always take more water than you think you need, especially on hot days or if you live in an arid region. Having extra water at the end of your activity is far better than running out and suffering from heat exhaustion. 2. Bring Healthy Snacks Two popular snacks often taken on outdoor excursions are trail mix and power bars. While generally considered healthy, these snacks may contain unhealthy elements (like M&Ms) or added sugar. As an alternative, consider packing healthy snacks. Put celery slices, snap peas, or baby carrots into snack bags. Whole foods – such as oranges, apples, or bananas – are super portable since they come in their own containers. Grab a handful of seeds (pumpkin, sunflower) or nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts) for a fiber-packed snack. High-protein foods will give you more energy and high-fiber foods will help you feel full longer. Take fiber along with protein to ensure a balanced, nutritious meal. Try to eat a healthy snack every 2 hours or as often as you feel hungry. 3. Use Sunscreen One benefit of engaging in outdoor activities is that you can get some vitamin D3 from sunshine. But there’s a danger of getting too much sunlight, specifically exposure to harmful UV rays. To limit your exposure to these rays, it’s wise to use sunscreen. Make sure to cover areas that tend to burn the easiest: face, ears, neck, and limbs. On sunny days, be mindful of reflections from glass or water, which can amplify the sun’s intensity. Also, be aware of overcast days since you can get a sunburn even through clouds. Be sure to monitor how much sun you’re getting – too much exposure can lead to severe sunburn and serious skin conditions. To prevent these detrimental outcomes, always use sunscreen when spending significant time outside. For sufficient protection against damaging sun rays, it’s recommended to use SPF 30 or higher. Remember to bring along some sunscreen in case you need to reapply after a few hours. 4. Get Nutritional Support with Daily Vitamin Packs Whether you’re hanging out at the beach, hitting the trail for a hiking or mountain biking adventure, or just taking a road trip to get out of town, don’t forget to pack the one thing that will supercharge your day from the start…your vitamins! Maybe it’s due to their tiny size, but many people forget to pack supplements or vitamins when leaving for a vacation, weekend outing, or day trip. Although getting off your vitamin regimen is never a good thing, it’s particularly detrimental when you head off on a trip or outdoor adventure. Without the proper nutrients, you may find it difficult to engage in activities that require sustained physical exertion. To prevent periods of energy depletion, low mood, and memory issues, always remember to take your supplements with you. Your supplement regimen should include ultra-pure vitamins and nutrients that are proven essential for your health, energy levels, mental focus, and physical performance. There’s no need to pack bottles or a weekly vitamin organizer – BrainMD offers ultra-pure, brain-directed supplements in convenient daily vitamin packs. We’ve developed two different daily vitamin packs to fit your on the go lifestyle: Brain & Body Power Brain & Body Power is a supplement system that was designed for essential everyday performance.* It’s a potent daily regimen of 3 supplements for total brain and body health, offered in convenient packets.* Each packet contains: NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin (2 capsules) This powerful combination of 50 vitamins, essential minerals, standardized plant extracts, and digestive enzymes (carefully selected for optimal bioavailability), is foundational to your supplement regimen.* Omega-3 Power (1 capsule) Omega-3 Power provides a high dose of omega-3 fatty acids (essential for your brain and overall well-being), is made from sustainably harvested fish stocks, and is screened for over 250 potential contaminants to ensure maximum purity.* Brain & Memory Power Boost (2 capsules) Our bestselling, brain-boosting formula provides an unparalleled mix of potent nutraceuticals and herbals to support the brain’s energy, connectivity, blood flow, oxygen supply, information processing, and memory performance.* This supplement system provides high-quality, comprehensive nutritional support for optimal brain and body health.* Brain & Body Power Max Brain & Body Power MAX is for those who want a truly powerful dietary supplement system that provides superior memory and brain support.* It offers an additional allowance of vitamins, minerals, omega-3s, concentrates of herbal and food plants, and other nutrients that support, promote, and enhance the brain and body.* This all-in-one supplement system makes it easy to stay healthy on the go with portable packets for your purse or pocket.* For optimal benefit, we recommend taking 2 packets each day. Each packet contains: NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin (2 capsules) Over 50 vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and other nutritional ingredients (all in their most active forms) combine in NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin to give you the clinically-proven groundwork for your supplement regimen.* Omega-3 Power (2 capsules) To operate at peak performance, a healthy brain, heart, and body require plenty of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.* This fish oil concentrate provides a much higher potency than the typical fish oil product and undergoes the most advanced purification process in the industry to ensure safety.* Brain & Memory Power Boost (3 capsules) Brain & Memory Power Boost contains brain-directed nutrients, grounded in solid clinical science to support healthy brain and memory performance.* With its all-star lineup of potent ingredients, Brain & Memory Power Boost promotes the brain’s basic functions including its energy, connectivity, and overall performance.* Stay Active Physical activity is perhaps the single most important thing you can do to keep your brain and body healthy. Both aerobic and isometric exercise can improve brain health. Exercise is a great way to feel better, stay healthy, and just have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of some form of physical activity at least 5 days a week. If you’re looking to lose weight, you may want to extend the duration and increase the intensity of your workout sessions. Be sure to properly warm up with basic stretches before beginning any exercise or physical activity. Putting these tips into practice can give you the support and nutrients you need to stay active and enjoy a brain-healthy life. At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
Learn more
11 Foods You Need For a Bright Mind
If your memory is worse than it was ten years ago, you should know that your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s has risen. Did you know that food can play an important role in getting your memory back to where you want it to be? It’s never too late to heal your mind and boost your memory. What is “BRIGHT MINDS?" Dr. Daniel Amen uses the mnemonic “Bright Minds” in his book Memory Rescue. This mnemonic gives you your memory loss risk factor and its brain healthy solution. Here is a food for each: Blood Flow: Pistachios raise a chemical in the body called arginine. Arginine helps blood vessels become wider and increase blood flows. Retirement: as you age, your brain gets less and less active. One of the ways to reverse aging is to strengthen the antioxidant capability of your body. The most potent antioxidant on the planet is cloves. Inflammation: It is a major cause of depression and dementia. Omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, and curcumins that come from curry all decrease inflammation. Curried salmon would be the perfect anti-inflammatory meal. Genetics: Some of us are more vulnerable to illness. With Alzheimer's disease, if you have the genetic vulnerability, your body produces too much of something called beta-amyloid. Sage has A level scientific evidence to help your memory, plus it tastes awesome and decreases the production of beta-amyloid. Head Trauma: Head trauma is a major risk for memory problems, Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia. Shrimp boosts choline, which helps our brains make acetylcholine, which is very important, and very helpful for memory Toxins: We live in a toxic world. Whether it's your deodorant, shampoo, friends, or the toxic thoughts you have. Brassicas like cauliflower and brussel sprouts help boost glutathione in your body. Brassicas help your liver work better and helps you detoxify. Mental health: Saffron is a beneficial spice that has been shown to have anti-depressant effects that boost your memory, decrease your appetite while taking care of PMS. What could be better? Immunity and Infections: One of the best ways to strengthen your immune system is to boost your Vitamin D level. Eggs are a great way to incorporate Vitamin D into your diet. Neurohormones: For men and women, testosterone is critical to your sense of energy, motivation, mood, memory, libido, and sugar like eating cheesecake for dessert happens to drop it. But, adding pomegranate can strengthen testosterone. Diabesity: This is where you have a combination of high blood sugar, diabetes, or pre-diabetes, and you're overweight. It also increases your risk of memory problems. Cinnamon helps to stabilize your blood sugar, boost your mood, and it can decrease your appetite. Sleep: If you're not sleeping, you're much more likely to get a head injury. Cherry juice naturally has melatonin in it, the hormone that helps us sleep. A healthy and balanced diet- incorporating the foods listed in this Bright Minds mnemonic- regular exercise, and a good supplement regimen to support your nutritional deficiencies, brain, and body are all actions you can take to help your brain and memory today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life! Good habits start when you’re ready!
Learn more
Do You Really Need Supplements? Think Before You Buy.
Ask yourself…do you: Spend the majority of your time outside where you breathe only fresh, unpolluted air? Drink only pure, clean water? Sleep 8-9 hours every night? Exercise every day? Experience little to no stress? Have no exposure to environmental toxins? Eat wild, fresh, organic, local, non-GMO food grown in virgin mineral- and nutrient-rich soils that has not been transported across long distances and stored for weeks, or even months, before you eat it? If you answered yes to ALL of the above questions, then congratulations—you may not need to take supplements to support your brain and body health! For the rest of us, however, living in a fast-paced society where we too often get food to-go, skip meals, eat too much sugar, buy processed foods, experience stress, are sleep-deprived and dehydrated, drink too much caffeine, and don’t find enough time to exercise regularly, supplements are critical to supporting and optimizing our health. Supplements are NOT a cure-all. They can’t replace important health-supporting habits such as a healthy diet, exercise, sleep, and stress relief. But supplements CAN pick up where food and good health habits leave off, giving our bodies some of the extra firepower they need to fight disease and protect us from the everyday assaults of the toxins that surround us, such as air pollution and pesticides. Supplements can also help reduce inflammation, protect our DNA, boost our immune system, improve our moods, and contribute to brain health. So now that you understand why you can really benefit from supplements, where do you start? There are a lot of supplements out there—if you’ve ever walked down the supplement aisle of your local health food store or pharmacy, you know how many choices there are. Even grocery stores sell supplements these days. The key is to know which supplements to take and in what quantity. Taking the wrong amounts of the wrong supplements is not only a waste of money, but can be harmful to your health. That’s why I developed Brain & Body Power (and Brain & Body Power Max with a double boost of key nutrients for brains that need it). Brain & Body Power and Brain & Body Power Max deliver almost 60 vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and other nutrients to support optimal brain and body function in a convenient packet that you take twice daily—and at a much better price than if you were to buy all the nutritional supplements separately! We want to provide you with the highest quality, science-based products and Brain & Body Power and Brain & Body Power Max are just that. In fact, there are over 150 clinical trials that have been done on the nutrients contained in Brain & Body Power and Brain & Body Power Max which provide solid evidence about the breakthrough effects that these nutrient combinations can have on brain function. “Of all our supplements, my favorite is Brain & Body Power. I take it every day to support my need and desire for high level performance.”—Daniel G. Amen, MD We are really proud of BrainMD's supplement line, and we want them to work for you. That’s why we offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you are not fully satisfied.
Learn more