The Truth About Vitamin D

Recently my sisters and I had a day together. We went to one of our favorite places, the white sandy beaches of the Gulf Goast. We made memories there growing up and it still beckons us when we are together.

While there, my sister received a call from her doctor. She had been for a checkup a day or so before and her physician wanted to test her for Vitamin D deficiency. She was, indeed, vitamin D deficient and the nurse was calling to say she had called in a prescription for her.

We started researching the benefits of vitamin D and found interesting information, some of which I want to pass on to you.

For centuries we have heard that vitamin D deficiencies can cause rickets. But the latest research shows that there is so much more this vitamin does and it has not received proper credit . WebMD has a lot to say about this vitamin:

"Scientists have known for some time about vitamin D's role in helping the body absorb calcium, in maintaining bone density, and in preventing osteoporosis. But new research suggests it may also help protect against chronic diseases such as cancer, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and auto immune diseases."

The article goes on to say that we don't get enough vitamin D through food sources. That leaves our options as sun exposure and multivitamins. Then the article says something I have been concerned about for a long time. It says,

"The form of Vitamin D found in most multivitamins is vitamin D², which does not deliver the same amount of the vitamin to the body as the more desirable D³ form."

Many people taking vitamins feel good about themselves and believe they are doing all they can to stay healthy. Yet many times we are not getting the optimum quality.

It is important that we take good supplements. The above statement tells us not all forms are created equal There are reliable products available. I will not buy the cheapest, nor even some brands that doctors recommend. Remember the bottom line for most companies is profit. Some companies add fillers to their products that turn rancid with time and create the very thing we try to stay away from, free radicals.

It's important that your vitamin D is D3 or cholecalciferol. This is the kind that is beneficial and will help you take care of your body. Check 'cholecalciferol' out on the web.

Lastly, the article says:

"Many people living in the Southern United States can get enough vitamin D by getting about 10-15 minutes of sun exposure on their arms and face a few times a week -- as long as they don't use sunscreen, which blocks some of the UV rays necessary to make the vitamin."

So take time to get out in the sun, at least for short periods of time. And check out the best vitamin companies.