Everyone loves working from home now (we do!), but did you know that spending all day indoors, whether in a home office or a cubicle, could be silently affecting your health? According to studies, nearly half of Filipino workers are Vitamin D deficient—and most don’t even know it!
But first, why Vitamin D? As remote workers ourselves here at WhenInManila.com, we wanted to find out.
Photo (L-R): Thought Catalog, Mel Casipit
Apparently, Vitamin D is produced by our bodies when it’s exposed to sunlight. But due to work and lifestyle habits that keep us from sun exposure (like work-from-home peeps), a lot of Filipinos have been reported to suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.
But there are a number of linked benefits to Vitamin D, especially when coupled with proper diet and exercise. It is found that it:
- May help improve muscle and bone health
- May help improve the immune system
- May help reduce the risk of hypertension
- May help improve brain function
- May help improve digestive health
- May help improve sleep
The good thing is, aside from sun exposure, it could help to also get Vitamin D from Vitamin D-rich food and supplements, like Colecalciferol Vitamin D3 (Forti-D 2000).
Could you also have a Vitamin D deficiency?
Photo: Mel Casipit
Studies show that many Filipinos suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, with one study stating that up to 48.7% of office workers in Metro Manila are reportedly affected due to their lack of exposure to sunlight.
You can see how that might be the case. Office workers go to work very early in the morning when the sun is barely risen, and head home when the sun has set. While remote workers, well, are basically indoors for most of the day. No wonder we’re all not getting enough sunlight!
One journal published in the National Library of Medicine in 2019 states: “Indoor workers spend a significant amount of time working indoors without sunshine exposure. Due to the conventional working time of indoor workers, they are exposed to sunlight mostly during mornings and evenings, when the intensity of UV-B exposure is relatively low.”
“Sunlight deprivation among indoor workers puts them at high risk of developing vitamin D deficiency and its associated health risks,” the journal adds.
But other lifestyle habits could be affecting your Vitamin D levels, too.
Photo: Thought Catalog
Don’t work from the office, and not a remote worker as well? Great! But you should know that other lifestyle habits could also increase your risk of developing Vitamin D deficiency, like having obesity; not consuming enough Vitamin D-rich food; living in an air-polluted area where smog can block UV radiation; and being a heavy alcohol drinker.
On top of all that, Filipinos may also be predisposed to Vitamin D because of our skin tone. We have more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, and melanin acts like a natural sunblock, absorbing the UV rays needed for vitamin D production. Which means darker skin tones like ours require more sun exposure than lighter skin!
So how can we prevent Vitamin D deficiency?
Now we know that we’re at a higher risk for Vitamin D deficiency, is there something we can do about it? Absolutely! Here are some small changes you can make that may help improve your Vitamin D levels:
Photo: Colecalciferol Vitamin D3 (Forti-D 2000)
1. Take your vitamins.
One of the easiest and most reliable ways to help do that is by taking a daily Vitamin D supplement, coupled with proper diet and exercise. For us, we have tried and love Colecalciferol Vitamin D3 (Forti-D 2000)!
Colecalciferol Vitamin D3 (Forti-D 2000) is the #1 Vitamin D in the Philippines and is prescribed by doctors. By boosting your Vitamin D level with the aid of Colecalciferol Vitamin D3 (Forti-D 2000) and proper diet and exercise, you could help improve common signs of deficiency like fatigue, muscle weakness, bone pain, and mood changes.
With proper diet and exercise, taking Vitamin D regularly may help lead to better bone health, increased gut health, and improved immunity. Colecalciferol Vitamin D3 (Forti-D 2000) is a pure Vitamin D supplement.
2. Get daily sunlight.
Of course, on top of your daily dose of Vitamin D, don’t forget to make lifestyle changes, too. Aim for 5 to 30 minutes of exposure to direct sunlight daily. Mid-morning or late afternoon might be best for the least harmful levels of UVB rays. Be careful not to get sunburned!
3. Eat Vitamin D-rich food.
Eating certain foods could also help you raise your Vitamin D levels. Try to include fatty fish like salmon or tuna in your diet, as well as egg yolks in your meals. Many milk and cereal products are also fortified with extra Vitamin D.
Photo: Declan Sun
While many lifestyle habits like working from home could affect your Vitamin D levels and lead to deficiency, the good news is, there are things you can do to help gain control. Don’t let this silent deficiency affect your bones, mood, and overall health!
Make sure you get your daily dose of sun and Vitamin D-rich food, and don’t forget to take your Colecalciferol Vitamin D3 (Forti-D 2000)!
Colecalciferol Vitamin D3 (Forti-D 2000)
Website: www.unilab.com.ph
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortiDPH/
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PMDI, IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC., reprinted with permission VITAMIN D PLAIN in A – ORAL SOLID ORDINARY in values, counting units, dosage units and container units covering the period: MAT September 2024 (October 2023 – September 2024)
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
ASC REF CODE: U0224P071825F
