An Amazing Nutrient to Fight Diseases - Vitamin D!!!!

Vitamin D is one of the most powerful nutrients in nature. Not only does this inflammation fighter help promote healthy heart and brain function, but new studies show the vitamin can help slow down the progression of certain cancers. In fact, numerous medical journals and research studies indicate this sunshine vitamin can be the key to optimum health.

The nutrient is most commonly received from sunlight exposure, but can also be found in various food and dairy products.Drinking a glass of milk is a great way to get your body's requirement of Vitamin D but there are other sources of Vitamin D as well. Oily fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna are naturally rich in Vitamin D. Other foods are fortified with Vitamin D, such as orange juice, soy milk, butter substitutes and some yogurts and cereals.

Traditioanlly as we know, lack of vitamin D can result in scurvy, a softening and misshaping of the bones, especially in the legs, back, and skull. Osteomalacia is the term used for a deficiency of vitamin D in adults and it usually results in weak bones and muscles. However, recent studies have found that individuals with higher vitamin D levels are significantly less likely to develop colorectal cancer. Another study found that women who took 1,100 International Units (IU) of vitamin D per day together with a calcium supplement reduced their overall cancer risk by 60 per cent. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, depression and rheumatoid arthritis, among other diseases.

In short, the health benefits of Vitamin D can be summarized as:

-Lowers your risk of cancer
-Fights off winter weight gain
-Protects your heart
-Lifts your mood
-Provides a natural defense from colds and flu
-Prevents autoimmune disorders
-Builds stronger bones
-Helps protect teeth