The Sunshine Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an important nutritional supplement for the body.  Each type of vitamin has a specific role in maintaining health and proper bodily function so it is important to understand what vitamins can do for you.  This article will examine some facts about Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is  known as the 'Sunshine Vitamin'.   Exposure to sunshine will cause the body to manufacture its own Vitamin D therefore those with sufficient exposure to sunlight generally do not require a Vitamin D supplement. 

Vitamin D is also referred to as ergocalciferol through scientific terms and because of its makeup and compounds.  It is also known to be an important supplement for the body and providing levels of nutrition.  Each vitamin that you give to your body will then digest that vitamin and provide higher levels of functioning.  The vitamins that you put in your body are the only way to provide essential nutrients to functioning.

Vitamin D supports and regulates hormones through its effect on the thyroid gland. It aids in blood circulation and proper functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin D plays a vital role in bone growth and development as well as maintaining healthy teeth since it helps the body absorb Calcium. A deficiency of Vitamin D can cause Rickets in children and Osteoporosis in adults.

Vitamin D comes in three different types of substances.  The first is the regular vitamin D.  This is known to be a fat-soluble vitamin and can not alter its functioning through extreme heat or cold.  Vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 are the other two types of vitamin D.  Vitamin D3 is usually found in animal tissue while vitamin D2 can be found after it is synthesized through things such as yeast.  All of these types of vitamin D are important to include in your diet.

Vitamin D moves through the body in a specific manner in order to allow for the vitamin to move to specific places in the body and provide the proper functioning.  The vitamin will first move into the intestinal walls and will be sucked into them to provide most of the nutrients in this area.  From here, the vitamin can easily move into the liver, where it is stored until the body can use the source. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin.  That which is not used by the body right away is stored in the liver.  It is possible to take too much Vitamin D and the side effects can be serious and include calcium deposits in the heart, lungs, or kidneys.

Vitamin D can be found in several specific sources that are used in every day foods and cooking.  If they are not found here, or if you don't feel like you are getting enough vitamin D, you can always take a vitamin or supplement that will provide for more nutrients.  In foods, vitamin D is most often found in milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products.  It can also be found in liver as well as fish oils. 

Providing your body with vitamin D is a good step in maintaining nutritious value in your body.  By doing this, you will be able to produce normal levels of hormones and bones, as well as help with the regular functioning and circulation in several different areas of your body.  You should always keep track of how much vitamin D you are putting into your system.  By doing this, it will allow for you to be able to have a balanced and nutritious diet. 

Vitamin D is very important to good nutrition and maintaining a healthy body, especially strong bones and teeth.  Vitamin D is added to all milk produced commercially in the USA and is commonly found in combination with Calcium as a supplement.  Getting plenty of sunshine and eating dairy products will help you attain your daily requirement of Vitamin D.