• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

WhatsApp us today for help!  +44 7444 827 917

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Free Study – 2022-23

Study Abroad

  • Courses
  • Scholarships
  • Interview Tips
  • Essay Tips
  • Immigration
  • Contact Us
  • Search

Mobile Menu

  • Courses
  • Scholarships
  • Interview Tips
  • Essay Tips
  • Immigration
  • Contact Us
  • Search

Schedule A Free Consultation Now!

We can you find scholarships with your admissions.

+44 7444 827 917

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Students Must Take Vitamin D to Avoid Depression While Living Abroad

You are here: Home / Blog / Students Must Take Vitamin D to Avoid Depression While Living Abroad

June 4, 2020 //  by Amit Kumar

Depression is a silent killer- this is a statement that we have all heard and know of to be true. Depression can be far more dangerous than many other kinds of physical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, etc. 

It was once thought that the levels of depression amongst teens and young adults had increased now more than ever, as compared to a century ago. However, mental health education is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Even if young people did suffer from depression earlier, due to the lack of knowledge about the subject, as well as the taboo matter of the issue, it was not spoken of or even recorded. 

Read More: Why Vitamin D is Important for International students

Students who leave home to go and study abroad often suffer from bouts of depression. While for some students, it has happened just once, for others, it might be a more recurring phenomenon. Depression, even now, is not something that can be overtly spoken about.

It remains a somewhat taboo subject, especially with the older generation. Thankfully, the invisible taboos around this subject are being shed off rapidly, so that more students find it easier to speak to professionals or even just an adult they trust about this issue. 

While there are several preventive measures as well as treatments for depression, there are a few things that can be done by students themselves to avoid falling into depression. Although they might sound too easy to be accurate, these little steps can help students prevent depression in a very significant way. 

Table of Contents

  • What Is Depression?
  • How Can Vitamin D Help to Avoid Depression?
  • How Can Students Increase Vitamin D in Their Bodies?

What Is Depression?

Depression is a mental health disorder that can affect almost every single part of an individual’s everyday life. Depression is characterized by bouts of sadness, an overwhelming sense of loss or grief, loss of interest in day to day activities, loss of interest in hobbies, avoidance of social interaction, loss of appetite, and insomnia, to name a few.

However, depression can have dozens of more symptoms, which can cause significant disruption in a person’s life. 

Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in an individual’s brain. However, it can also be caused by a combination of other factors, such as social, physiological, and even biological factors. 

One of the most dangerous consequences of depression is overwhelming thoughts or want to commit suicide. Many individuals end up committing suicide or attempting to, to stop the feelings of sadness. 

How Can Vitamin D Help to Avoid Depression?

Several studies conducted by Springer, whose results have been reported in the New England Journal of Medicine as well as studies conducted by the Vitamin D Council, have indicated that there is a strong correlation between the deficiency of Vitamin D and depression.

This means that in the test subjects, it has been noted that those who suffer from low levels of Vitamin D are also more prone to suffering from depression. 

Read More: Why Magnesium Is Important for Students?

Although studies have not concluded whether there is a direct link, i.e., increasing Vitamin D levels in the body can alleviate depression, or whether the consequence of depression is lower levels of Vitamin D, the correlation is still present and quite durable.

How Can Students Increase Vitamin D in Their Bodies?

Vitamin D is often known as the ‘sunshine vitamin.’ By this, we can understand that one of the easiest, most economical ways in which we can increase levels of Vitamin D in our bodies is by taking in the sunlight.

Going outdoors and soaking up the sun can be extremely therapeutic, not only for increasing the levels of Vitamin D but also for our mental health and improving our overall mood. 

Vitamin D is a nutrient that is produced by the body itself. Exposure to the sun acts as a catalyst and causes the body to produce more of this nutrient. Vitamin D is notoriously one of the most underrated nutrients which our bodies need.

It is important to note that dark-skinned individuals need almost 25 times more exposure to natural sunlight to produce the same amount of Vitamin D as a light-skinned individual. 

Although it is essential to go outside and soak up the sun regularly, you should also remember that overexposure to the harsh UV rays of the sun can also cause skin cancer. This is why it is vital to protect yourself while doing this exercise.

However, this is very counterintuitive and counterproductive. Although sunscreen does protect you from skin cancer, it also does not allow the body to completely absorb the sunlight and produce Vitamin D in our bodies.

Another essential thing to know is that glass acts as a natural barrier to us effectively absorbing sunlight. Sitting inside your home or your car with the windows up is not an effective way to get sun exposure for Vitamin D. 

You will also find several right Vitamin D supplements, most of which you can buy over the counter. These supplements can be taken just a couple of times a week. To balance out a Vitamin D deficiency, you will need to do this for several months- the effects are not immediate. 

THere are also several things you can add to your diet, which will increase Vitamin D in your body. Some of these include: 

  • Cheese
  • Egg yolk
  • Fatty fish- mackerel, salmon, tuna
  • Orange juice
  • Soy milk
  • Beef liver
  • Cod liver oil
  • Mushrooms

It is a curious observation that most of the foods which are high in Vitamin D are in the colour of the sun! 

Increasing the levels of Vitamin D in your body and overcoming a Vitamin D deficiency can be great, not only for avoiding depression but also because Vitamin D helps numerous other bodily functions. By visiting a doctor, you can quickly test the levels of Vitamin D you have in your body.

In case you suffer from a deficiency, the doctor can prescribe the right medication along with a proper diet to help you naturally increase the levels of Vitamin D. By being aware of a few small steps, you can help avoid and alleviate all signs of depression when you are living abroad. 

Category: BlogTag: Abroad, Students

About Amit Kumar

FreeEducator.com blog is managed by Amit Kumar. He and his team come from the Oxford, Stanford and Harvard.

At FreeEducator, we strive to create the best admission platform so that international students can go to the best universities - regardless of financial circumstances.

By applying with us, international students get unlimited support and unbiased advice to secure the best college offers overseas.

Need help with studying abroad? or need a scholarship?

Schedule a no-cost consultation today!

We help students around the world with their college applications and related scholarships. With us you can apply for college admissions and we’ll help you apply for all available scholarships with that.






You May Also Be Interested In:

How to Become Web Developer for Free?

UNESCO Calling Application for International Fund for Cultural Diversity

Colleges in France for International Students

Colleges in Germany for International Students

Best Ways for College Students to Make Money

Christmas Presents for College Students

Best Laptops for High School Students 2020

Best Remote Jobs for College Students

Best International Credit Card for Students

Previous Post: « Swedish Universities will be reopened for International Students from June 15
Next Post: Best Metaphors for Students to Learn »

Primary Sidebar

RECENT POSTS

How to Become Web Developer for Free?

As an entry level software developer, you can typically expect …

UNESCO Calling Application for International Fund for Cultural Diversity

On March 16, 2022, UNESCO launches the thirteenth call for …

Colleges in France for International Students

Are you thinking of studying overseas, particularly in France? …

Colleges in Germany for International Students

Germany is one of the world's top ten most popular study …

Best Ways for College Students to Make Money

College life is full of new experiences and ideas. You get a lot …

Christmas Presents for College Students

The holiday season has arrived, and it's time to start thinking …

Best Laptops for High School Students 2020

It's not just college students who need laptops for their …

Popular tags

Abroad Australia Canada Career China College Colleges Competition Engineering Essay Essay tips Express Entry Foreign Students Free Online Course Free Online Courses Germany Graduate Immigration India Indian Students International International News International Students Interview Interview Questions Jobs masters New Zealand Online Courses PhD Position PhD scholarship PhD Scholarships Pros and Cons Scholarships Science Student Students Study Study Abroad Study in Canada Study in the USA UK universities USA visa

Footer

About FreeEducator

FreeEducator is a free study abroad and scholarships resource site for international students. FreeEducator was founded in August 2007 by Amit Kumar. The main goal of this site is to provide quality support to international students that allows them to improve their chances of success in life.

Site Links

  • About
  • Contact us
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy

Contact Us

Free Educator - Study Abroad Marketing Office
+44 7444 827 917

Email:
info@www.freestudy.com

Northways Parade
28 College Cres, London NW3 5DN


Head Office 106 Jaihind Kothi, Prem Nagar Bareilly, 243005, India
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Site Footer

Free Educator – Best website for international students to study abroad. Free scholarships and Financial aid.

Copyright © 2023 FreeEducator - Study Abroad · All Rights Reserved.