Posted on 9th Feb 2011 @ 10:35 PM

Vitamin D, a very important vitamin that the body should always have, is a nutrient that is necessary in maintaining normal calcium and phosphorous level in the blood and in maintaining healthy bones and teeth, the body very much needs Vitamin D. Here are some more nutrition facts about Vitamin D:

1. The skin produces Vitamin D when exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays. It is important to note, though, that the natural sunlight's healing rays cannot go through glass. Hence, you don't get benefited when sunlight is blocked by a glass
2. Eating Vitamin D-rich foods may not be enough to supply your body with Vitamin D. Adequate sunlight exposure may still be needed. According to a nutrition fact shared by a health expert, balanced diet plus 1.5 to 2 hours sunlight exposure per week may be enough to get your weekly Vitamin D needs
3. Good sources of Vitamin D are fish as well as fish-liver oils. Also, it can be found in milks which are Vitamin-D fortified. It is worth knowing that cooking does not, in any way, affect the Vitamin D found in foods
4. People who are dark-skinned are in need of more sunlight exposure as compared to fair skinned people. As to those who are strict vegetarians and who get inadequate sunlight exposure and don't drink milk which are fortified may need to take Vitamin D supplements
5. Deficiency in Vitamin D may result to more serious conditions. For children, they may develop the disease known as rickets. This disease is described as the failure of the bone tissue to mineralize properly causing skeletal deformities and resulting to soft bones. For adults, they may suffer from osteomalacia, a disease where the bones lose calcium and become weak
6. Once a person has Vitamin D deficiency, such condition cannot be reversed overnight. Months of treatment may be necessary in order to restore the bones and nervous system to its normal state
7. Suffering from liver damage or kidney disease contributes to the inability of the body to set Vitamin D in circulation
8. For pregnant women, take note that too much Vitamin D can also be detrimental to the fetus. Follow strictly the advice of your health care professional. If you don't, problems with the baby's parathyroid gland may result leading further to a problem in the heart of the baby
9. The recommended daily value for Vitamin D with reference to the Recommended Dietary Allowance or RDA is 400 IU but for those who are less exposed to sunshine like the elders, it is twice as much (800 IU)
10. Don't take more than what is recommended. This is because the body stores Vitamin D and too much might lead to poisoning or even death. However, such value may be adjusted based on your calorie needs. Take note that foods providing a lower DV percentage contributes to a healthful diet.

Take note of the above-stated nutrition facts and get the best out of life.