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Vitamin D is increasingly reported on in the news as being a vitamin that many Americans are deficient in, and yet is extremely important for good health. Many people know that Vitamin D is important along with calcium for healthy bones, and we have heard more recently about its role in preventing cancer, but did you know there are many more benefits to having optimal vitamin D levels?
This is because Vitamin D affects various genes in our cells throughout our bodies. This is why it can have an impact on so many different body systems. In addition to helping with cancer prevention and strong bones, research also shows that Vitamin D has an impact on:
- Healing cells and tissues
- Asthma
- Influenza (flu) & viruses like the Common Cold
- Heart Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
Many people have the mistaken notion that as long as they go out in the sun from time to time, they will not be deficient in Vitamin D. However, this is simply not the case. In fact, many researchers think they are seeing an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency, probably due in no small part to the constant reminders we have to stay out of the sun from 10-2pm and to use chemical sunblock and/or clothing to keep the UV rays from being absorbed by our body. Unfortunately, it is these very same rays that help our body to manufacture Vitamin D, so if we are avoiding them, we are not making much vitamin D from the sun. For more, see our section on:
Sun & Vitamin D
Also, click below for our pages on optimal blood levels of vitamin D and also on vitamin D supplementation:
Blood Levels of Vitamin D - What is Optimal
Supplementation of Vitamin D - Is it Necessary?
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