The Importance of Vitamin D

In humans it is common knowledge that the problem of rickets is a condition caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Rickets usually affects children. It is a terribly sad affliction characterized by an abnormally low concentration of calcium in the bone, resulting in several skeletal distortion and muscle pain. The problem is not an insufficient amount of calcium in the body. It is a shortage of Vitamin D which assists in regulating the transport of calcium to the bones. Guess what the absolute best source of Vitamin D is? Sunshine.

Vitamin D is unique in that it can be formed in the body. There is a fluid right under the skin and when it comes into contact with the ultra violet rays of the sun it is converted into Vitamin D and absorbed into the bloodstream. There is no better source of Vitamin D than sunshine and those who tell you that the artificial Vitamin D added to food is just as good are doing you a grave disservice. The sad truth is that all too frequently the people telling you that Vitamin D supplements do the same job as sun shine just happen to sell them. For example you have the dairy industry telling you that the little amount of artificial inorganic Vitamin D added to their products somehow meets the requirements of the body. That's merely another instance of an advertisement.

Unfortunately the fear of overexposure to ultraviolet light is causing many people to over protect themselves from sunlight to the point that they're creating a Vitamin D deficiency. Because of their fear of skin cancer many people never let the sun reach their skin. This is an outrageous overreaction and a most ignorant bit of reasoning. There is a marked difference between sunbathing and sunburn. No one is suggesting that you lie in the sun until damage is done. You can intelligently use or ignorantly abuse any of the elements of health. You can over eat valueless food until you become fat and sick.

Does that mean you should not eat food? Or does it mean you should eat food properly? You can very rapidly push all air from your lungs, and then hyperventilate until you pass out. Does that mean you should not breathe? Or does it mean you should breathe properly? You can exercise aggressively and violently and push yourself until you collapse in pain and depletion. Does that mean you should not exercise at all? Or does it mean you should exercise properly? You can hold your head under water until you drown; does that mean you should not use water? Or does it mean you should use water properly?

Similarly you can be in the sun until your skin resembles a potato chip. But that doesn't mean you should not use the sun. Rather you should use the sun properly and limit your exposure to half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening, when the sun's rays are at their weakest. This will ensure a proper amount of Vitamin D is created for your body, naturally