Vitamin D: Vital Role in Your Health

No doubt, you're probably familiar with vitamin superstars, such as vitamin C and E and their roles in your health. But lately the attention has shifted to the long neglected vitamin D, which is finally getting its time "to shine."

Sure, you probably know that vitamin D has been a popular supplement for promoting healthy bones. However, current studies showed that low levels of vitamin D could be connected with several other diseases, such as cancers of the colon, prostate, breast, ovaries, esophagus and lymphatic system. Also, persons with low levels of vitamin D may experience bone and muscle pain and an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.

A recent study at Boston University School of Medicine showed that vitamin D helps lower blood pressure. The three-month test exposed people with high blood pressure to UVA and UVB rays and resulted in their vitamin D levels increasing by over 100%-and more importantly-their high blood pressure returned to normal.

With these exciting findings, vitamin D should finally get the attention it deserves.

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

 The Vitamin D Council, recommends healthy adults and adolescents take 5,000 IU of vitamin D per day. Even though vitamin D is stored in the body for up to six months, we need continuous replenishment because our bodies use 3,000 to 5,000 units per day.

Increasing Your Intake of Vitamin D

Chances are, if you don't get outdoors much, are a stickler for applying sunscreen or live in an area with dark winter days-you just might be deficient in vitamin D.

The Vitamin D Council says vitamin D supplements are necessary unless you use a sunbed weekly or live in Florida and sunbathe once a week-every week. Smart Tan News (smarttan.com) recently reported sunbeds that emit UVB (almost 95 percent of sunbeds out there today) also make about 1,000 IU of vitamin D per minute when 90 percent of a tanner's body is exposed to the light