Research is now confirming that vitamin D is much more than a “vitamin”:
Strong bones: Vitamin D has long been known as an essential nutrient for its critical role in calcium and phosphate balance in the body. Severe vitamin D deficiency causes rickets (a disease state of weakened bowing bones).
Cell metabolism: Because Vitamin-D affect calcium absorption it has an important role in the cells energy transport and cellular metabolism and therefore impacts nearly all cell functions in the body.
Immune system: In the past two decades, vitamin D’s influence on the immune system was discovered.
Hormonal functions: Now, more recently, vitamin D is being shown to be a significant hormone involved in inhibition of unwanted cell growth, immune function and finally, regulation of other hormonal systems.
Important points
- Vitamin D is made from cholesterol through activation of sunlight on the skin.
- Low vitamin D levels are associated with many diseases (such as cancer, autoimmune disease, and hypertension).
- Because of our modern culture’s fear of sun exposure, vitamin D deficiency is quite common in most parts of the world. Yes, it’s true we don’t want to “burn” our skin from overexposure to sun, but we now know that regular sun exposure is important for vitamin D to be manufactured by our body.
What to do
- Get regular exposure to sunlight, if possible
- If you are not getting regular sun exposure, especially in the winter, supplement with vitamin D3.