A Guide to Vitamin D

Although it’s called the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is actually a precursor hormone, not a vitamin, and like other hormones, it helps to regulate various bodily systems and functions. Vitamin D is produced naturally when your skin is exposed to the sun. Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough direct sun exposure in the modern world, due to location, climate, work schedule, fear of skin cancer, or other factors. This lack of direct sun exposure—direct sun on the skin that is unmediated by windows or sunscreen—has led to a vitamin D deficiency for most Americans, leaving them at risk for serious health conditions. Beyond being essential for bone health, research has found that vitamin D plays a major role in supporting the immune system. Without vitamin D, you are also at a higher risk of developing diseases like osteoporosis, diabetes, depression, and even cancer. Read more…