Like all the other vitamins, Vitamin D has its own role to play in the body. Master vitamin! That is how Vitamin D is also called because it works fantastically. Among the benefits of Vitamin D is proper regulation of blood pressure, mood and behavior, bone density, hair growth, muscle strength, immune function and programmed cell death or apoptosis, an important process in preventing reproduction of damaged or cancerous cells. These are some facts that nutrition data of a Vitamin D-rich food sometimes fails to mention.

VITAMIN D SOURCES

Before knowing how Vitamin D really works, let us first identify the best sources of this vitamin. They are:

• Sunlight. You might find this irritating sometimes to the extent that you avoid being exposed to it. But this is not a good practice because the Ultraviolet Rays of the sun help synthesize Vitamin D in the skin, hence, get enough exposure and don't mind the heat at least once in a while
• Oily fish like herring, sardines, tuna, pilchards, mackerel, trout, and salmon. The nutrition data of these foods will show you that they are naturally rich of Vitamin D
• Small amounts of cheese, milk and butter
• Mushrooms
• Egg yolk
• Liver
• Fortified foods.  Examples are some cereals, margarine, and infant formula milk. These can help you enjoy the benefits of Vitamin D.

HOW VITAMIN D WORKS

Now, let us go to how Vitamin D actually works.

Initially, Vitamin D, in its natural form, travels to the liver, goes through a chemical change and then travels through the bloodstream going to the kidneys. From there, it undergoes another chemical change turning into an active type of vitamin known as dihydroxy Vitamin D. Then and there, it starts its function by assisting the body in absorbing calcium as well as phosphorus and transporting them into the bone tissue. You might be curious why exposure to sunlight is important in generating Vitamin D. Well, this is because when the body is exposed to adequate sunlight, it starts to absorb Vitamin D by means of Vitamin D-binding protein (DBP). Here, you start to get pleasure from the benefits of Vitamin D.

Best health, that's what almost all person wants and surely, it includes you. So, better start now and get the best of the benefits of Vitamin D. Know what you eat by checking the nutrition data of the food you consume and include sun exposure in the list of your daily needs. However, take note that you should only take the recommended daily Vitamin D amount because too much might cause serious problems like poisoning.