Vitamin D is a tricky vitamin and many studies show that Americans are commonly deficient in! The best way to obtain the amounts we need, is by exposing the skin to the sun. But, keep in mind, that we still want you to protect yourself from cancers, burns and the damage that can be done to your skin by the sun. ALWAYS put on sunscreen before going outside. You will never have to burn your skin to get the amount of Vitamin D your body needs.

There are 4 factors that come into play when trying to figure out how to get your right dose of sunshine. The first, understanding your skin type on a scale from 1 to 6. To find more information about your skin type CLICK HERE.  The second is your geographic location and the amount of sun that your body gets changes depending on where you are in longitude and latitude.  The final two pieces is a combination of the weather, and time of year. An example would be, if you live in Boston no matter how much you went outside during the winter your body would not be able to make any Vitamin D from the sun at that time in that location.

If you prefer not to completely rely on the sun for your Vitamin D dose; supplements for this vitamin are the second best way to help get the levels needed since most foods have little to no support.

So what does Vitamin D do for us?

• Enhances Immune system, which helps you to fight infection
• Restores Muscle function
• Supports Cardiovascular function, for a healthy heart and circulation
• Supports Respiratory system –for healthy lungs and airways
• Brain development
• Anti-cancer benefits