Originally published December 18 2005
School paper talks about the importance of vitamin D in the winter months
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Excalibur, the newspaper of York University, devotes an article to vitamin D and its many health benefit claims, including bone health.
Vitamin D is one essential nutrient that goes by many names: Calciferol, viosterol and ergosterol.
Under sunlight, ultra-violet sunrays react with the oils found on the skin to produce vitamin D. It is then absorbed and utilized by the body.
When taken as a supplement or derived from food, the intestinal walls absorb it with the fats present in that environment.
If you do not get enough from your diet, ten minutes of sun per day in the summer is enough to produce a supply that will last throughout the winter.
The most important role of vitamin D is its relationship with two important minerals: Calcium and phosphorus.
As mentioned previously, vitamin D plays an important role in the intestines.
More importantly, this vitamin interacts with the fats found there to ensure that calcium and phosphorous are properly absorbed.
Vitamin D also ensures that calcium is brought from the bones and into the blood.
Finally, it ensures that the kidneys reabsorb the vitamin from the blood.
Because of its interaction with these two minerals, this vitamin is essential for growing children to ensure strong teeth and healthy bones.
Unfortunately, due to the large amount of smog and the increasingly thickening carbon dioxide deposits into the ozone layer, if you live within a busy city such as Toronto, it is important to acquire a supplement or to enrich your diet with foods high in this vitamin.
Because of its role in keeping bones strong, growing children should increase their intake.
Also, dark-skinned individuals should consider drinking a supplement or rearranging their diet.
Other facts Each summer, there is an influx of information pointing to the negative effects of overexposure to sunlight.
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