Why Vitamin D Could Be the Key to a Flatter Tummy.

It never fails, whenever I put on a few extra pounds, it always goes directly to my midsection.  Of all the times in the year, I seem to pack on belly fat during the winter.  Most of us will dismiss this phenomenon as a result of the extra indulgences that occur during the holidays... and that may be so, but I've recently learned of another trigger that could be causing us to have more belly fat than we should.



According to a recent study, there is a real relationship between our vitamin D levels and how much fat we store on our belly.  I've covered the importance of having adequate vitamin D multiple times in the past.  It's basically an anti-aging vitamin hormone.  The reason why vitamin D reigns supreme is because it isn't a vitamin at all, it's actually a hormone responsible for countless bodily functions from bone formation to healthy skin and hair.  Adequate vitamin D is absolutely essential!

Last year I decided to finally take the plunge and get my vitamin levels tested.  Not surprisingly, I tested deficient in vitamin D.  They say that most individuals with dark skin tones are probably vitamin D deficient, thanks to the sun-protective qualities of melanin.   Even though I live in an area with plenty of sunshine, I rarely go outside for long periods of time.  When I do venture outdoors, I'm covered in sunscreen which blocks the possibility of absorbing natural vitamin D from sunlight.

After receiving the test results, I purchased a bottle of vitamin D in hopes of improving my levels. I tried to be consistent but I've been lacking in being consistent.  But after learning about the link between vitamin D deficiency and belly fat, I've been on my best behavior.

The study involved 50 overweight and obese women (between the ages of 20-40).  These women were divided into 2 groups.  Group 1 was given high potency vitamin D supplements to take for six weeks. The second group received a placebo.  The women were asked not to change their amount of physical activity or alter their diet during the experiment.  They were simply instructed to write down everything they ate, their activity levels and exposure to sunlight.  According to the findings "supplementation of vitamin D...significantly reduced the BMI, weight, and waist circumference" of the women in the test group.

Check out these details from a different study that produced similar results: 

...400 overweight or obese individuals took part in the study that were divived into three different groups. The groups included those who consumed 25,000 IU of vitamin D per month, those who consumed 100,000 IU each month and the third group included those who didn't take any supplements. Each participant followed a low-calorie diet.
Once six months were up, they found that the individuals who had 100,000 IU each month were sufficient in their vitamin D levels. Both groups of people who consumed vitamin D had more of a weight loss and lower waist circumference than the group who didn't supplement at all.
The group who supplemented 100,000 IU of vitamin D lost an average of 11.9 pounds. Those who consumed 25,000 IU of vitamin D lost an average of 8.4 pounds. Individuals who didn't take any vitamin D lose an average of 2.6 pounds.

That's some pretty convincing evidence.  Perhaps my belly fat could have something to do with testing low for vitamin D.  One popular wellness Dr. on YouTube always says that a round belly is a sure sign of insulin resistance.  It turns out that vitamin D has a direct effect on increasing insulin sensitivity.  This is extremely important for weight loss.   The more sensitive we are to insulin, the more our body can easily metabolize sugar without immediately storing it as fat.  Is vitamin D a cure-all for weight loss?  Who knows... at the very least we should all strive to achieve normal levels of this super-hormone and see what benefits we experience from there.