4 Things You Might Not Know About Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. Its discovery is credited to Edward Mellanby in 1919 when he discovered that a trace factor in cod liver oil could help cure rickets. Elmer McCollum followed up on Mellanby's work and labeled this trace factor vitamin D. In this article I plan to teach you a little more about this vital vitamin by discussing four things you might not know about vitamin D.

1) IT HELPS THE BODY USE CALCIUM AND PHOSPHOROUS:- One of the main roles of this vitamin is to help the body absorb calcium and phosphorous. Both of these minerals promote healty bone and tooth growth. Vitamin D also signals to the kidneys when these minerals should be deposited into the bones and when they should be extracted and used elsewhere.

2) YOUR BODY CAN PRODUCE IT:- Unlike most vitamins, your body can actually produce vitamin D itself. When your body is exposed to sunlight this stimulates the production of this essential vitamin. Experts believe that just a short period in the sun every day will allow your body to produce enough to meet the recommended daily allowance (RDA) which is 0.01mg for both men and women.

3) IT CAN BE FOUND IN FOODS TOO:- Although it is possible to get your RDA of this vitamin from sunlight alone you can source it from food as well. Fatty fish and fish oils such as cod liver oil are a particularly rich source. Dairy products such as butter, eggs and milk also contain good levels of this vitamin. Therefore, if you do not manage to get out in the sun much perhaps you should consider adding some of these foods to your diet.

4) A DEFICIENCY CAN LEAD TO BONE PROBLEMS:- Not getting enough of this vitamin can cause your bones to become weak making them bend, swell and fracture. A vitamin D deficiency in children can also delay teething. Therefore, you need to make sure you get your RDA whether it is from exposure the sunlight or eating the right foods.

5) OVERDOSING BE HARMFUL TO YOUR BODY:- There are a number of harmful side effects associated with getting too much of this vitamin. The most significant of these is elevated blood calcium levels which can cause calcium to be deposited on vital organs leading to permanent damage. Diarrhea and nausea are two other unpleasant side effects associated with overdosing on vitamin D. Therefore, if you are currently taking this vitamin in supplement form make sure you do not overdo it.