Why We Need "Vitamin D"

"Vitamin D", also known as the sunshine vitamin, is not really a vitamin, but a hormone that is produced naturally when our skin is exposed to sunlight. The amount of sunlight needed to produce adequate amounts of "vitamin D" in the body is dependent on things such as color of the skin (darker skin requires longer exposure to sunshine), the time of day and the season, among other things. You should be careful to control the exposure of the skin to sunlight because of the risk of skin cancer. Also, you can find "vitamin D" in foods like milk, egg yolks, fatty fish, sardines, mackerel, tuna and salmon.
 

"Vitamin D" is usually noted for its impact on strengthening the bones and joints in the body by assisting the absorption of calcium. However, "vitamin D" benefits us in significantly more ways than is often recognized. Vitamin D3, a form of "vitamin D", along with curcumin, which is found in the herb turmeric, is found to stall the creation of Beta Amyloid which is recognized to damage brain tissue, resulting in Alzheimer�s disease. "Vitamin D" is essential in thwarting possibility of diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, periodontal, cardiovascular and tuberculosis, along with cancerous conditions including breast, colon and prostate cancers.
 
Before the introduction of "vitamin D" supplements, children faced a high risk of a bone disease called rickets. This caused permanent bowing of the legs. A healthy level of "vitamin D" benefits children suffering from seasonal allergies by building up their immunity. It can also reduce asthma attacks or incidents of the flu, both of which are common during the winter and spring.
 
 
If you are elderly you must be careful to maintain proper "vitamin D" levels because the amount of "vitamin D" produced in the skin after exposure to sunlight declines and the body looses some of its ability to convert vitamin D into the active hormone needed for proper calcium metabolism. The bones become easier to fracture and break.
 
A high-quality "vitamin D" supplement should be used to ensure an adequate daily intake of "vitamin D". It is important to read the label of the supplement to identify the source of the "vitamin D". Vitamin D3 is preferred because it is better utilized by the body.
 
To make sure you are not "vitamin D" deficient, consult with your doctor and ask to have your "vitamin D" level tested. Ask for the 25 Hydroxyl "Vitamin D" Test. �Prevention is preferable to a cure.�