.jpg)
Vitamin D - The Health Booster
This nutritional powerhouse vitamin affects cell growth and death, insulin production, and the immune system. New studies have shown up to 2,000 different genes that are regulated by Vitamin D. That means almost everything your body does relies on it.
This vitamin is one of the few that our bodies can actually manufacture. Sunlight converts a cholesterol-like substance naturally found in the skin into D. But up to 70% of North Americans are Vitamin D deficient, and this has been shown to be a contributing factor of such diseases as depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, many types of cancer, and multiple sclerosis.
Health experts are advising we raise the recommended daily dose of Vitamin D from 200IU to 1,000IU. And although a few types of fish and most fortified milk are sources of this vital nutrient, there is not sufficient quantities in these foods to benefit us.
Your best bet to improve levels? Take a multi-vitamin that contains at least 1,000IU of Vitamin D, drink more milk, and try to get a few minutes each day of sunshine, just not at peak UV periods. If you are concerned about your Vitamin D levels, discuss it with your medical practitioner and have them checked with a blood test.
