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Vitamin Supplements >> Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a key factor in reducing
the risk of colon cancer and osteoporosis. Vitamin D, which is
fat-soluble, is essential to maintaining blood levels of calcium.
It does this by increasing absorption of calcium from food and
reducing the loss of calcium via the urine. Therefore, Vitamin
D helps maintain bone mass by keeping calcium in the body.
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association
(2005;294:233641), to maintain normal calcium metabolism,
a persons vitamin D status appears to be more important
than supplementing with calcium. The results of this study suggest
that assuring adequate vitamin D levels might provide greater
protection against osteoporosis than taking calcium every day.
Vitamin D is also instrumental in immunity
and blood cell formation and is needed for maintaining adequate
blood levels of insulin.
Most vitamin D in the body is created during
a chemical reaction that occurs when the body is exposed to the
sun. Hence Vitamin D is often known as the "sunshine vitamin."
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 10 to 15 minutes
of sunshine 3 times weekly is adequate to produce the body's requirement
of vitamin D.
Cod liver oil is an excellent source of
vitamin D. Dairy products including cheese, butter, cream
milk (all milk in the US is fortified with vitamin D), fish, oysters,
fortified cereals and margarine.
Resources for Vitamin D Supplements

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