It has only been in recent years that many of the benefits of vitamin D have come to the table to show that it isn't simply a secondary or tertiary vitamin. In fact, research has shown that vitamin D regulates almost 2,000 human genes. Almost all of your bodily functions rely to some extent on the availability of vitamin D. All this for a vitamin which ten years ago was thought of as almost irrelevant.
Vitamin D is absolutely necessary in the absorption of calcium. The only way calcium can be properly absorbed into the body is by making sure you have vitamin D available in the small intestine. Without it, calcium will not be able to make it to the skeletal system to increase bone mass. This increases the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis.
Vitamin D has also shown to be beneficial for reducing the risk of certain cancers like breast cancer, cervical cancer, and prostate cancer. It has been proven that vitamin D supplementation has the ability to actually halt the progression of certain cancers with astounding results. Author Bill Sardi states in his book 'You Don't Have to be Afraid of Cancer Anymore' that in a study performed on women who have low levels of vitamin D, their breast cancer risk increased by 345%. Also, in the same book, he states that increasing the daily recommended value of vitamin D to 400 IU decreased their pancreatic cancer risk by 43%.
The best way to incorporate more vitamin D into your life is by getting outside more often and enjoying the sun. Ideally, you should aim for about 15 - 20 minutes of sun exposure on a large part of your skin. In order to avoid skin damage caused by excess sun bathing, you will need to build up an arsenal of antioxidants in your body. The best way to do this is by eating whole foods or super foods supplements. Obviously, sun damage can diminish in the long, cold winter months but during this time, a well chosen multi-vitamin will help you to get the correct dosage of vitamin D.
So, even if you are not at risk of any diseases, you can still benefit from increasing your intake of vitamin D in many different ways. Raising the amount of vitamin D on a daily basis can help promote feelings of well-being. Protect your skin by combining sunlight and supplements to make sure that you get the optimal amount of vitamin D possible.
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