Reasons to Take Vitamin D

Are you wondering if you should be taking Vitamin D supplements? Why are so many people taking Vitamin D supplements?

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient required for multiple health functions. Vitamin D is responsible for calcium absoption and the production of certain "feel good" hormones, as well as is considered part of a healthy defense against some kinds of cancer and hypertension. If you are lacking Vitamin D, you may be at higher risk of developing brittle bones, cardiovascular issues, rickets, and diabetes.

The recent excitement about Vitamin D is related to a discovery that many Americans are found to be deficient. If you religiously wear sunscreen and avoid the sun, you might be deficient.

But how do you know how much Vitamin D you need? Unfortunately, this topic is the subject of much debate, with answers ranging between 200-2000 IU (International Units). You don’t want to take more than 2000 IU a day because Vitamin D can be toxic at doses higher than 2000 IU. Right now many doctors are pushing the recommended dosage to be bumped up to 1000 IU a day.

But what are good sources of Vitamin D? You get Vitamin D (naturally) every time you are exposed to sunshine. Just ten minutes of direct sunlight each day can get you your baseline (200 IU) of Vitamin D each day. Several doctors are suggesting that you try to get twenty minutes of sunlight a day, and then slather on your SPF30 after that. Other doctors say the risk of sunburn, skin cancer, and skin damage isn't worth the benefits; these doctors suggest you find another way to get your Vitamin D.

One simple method is supplements, although you will want to watch the dosage. Many multivitamins are now delivering higher doses of Vitamin D, so check to see what your daily vitamin provides. Some foods are supplemented with Vitamin D, such as orange juices and milk. Natural sources of Vitamin D are eggs, fish, and cod liver oil.

Your doctor will be able to tell you if you need to increase or decrease your consumption of Vitamin D.