Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency affects nearly one billion children and adults around the world. Most of us who work or go to school, are inside all day long. Many children and adults are inside in the evenings and weekends watching TV, playing video games, scrolling on their phones, rarely even going outside. 

Vitamin D is actually a hormone rather than a vitamin. It is similar in structure to testosterone and estrogen, and is produced from the ultra violet radiation in sunshine along with cholesterol. Reducing cholesterol reduces your body's ability to produce vitamin D. 

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, and phosphorus, all of which are needed for bone health. It contributes to immunity and is anti-inflammatory. Vitamin D protects against autoimmune disease, preeclampsia in pregnancy, cavities and periodontitis, infections, cardiovascular disease, deadly cancers, type 2 diabetes, and neurological disorders. 

There has been a lot of research into the role vitamin D plays in our health. Here are a few of the findings:

• Vitamin D deficiency is common in overweight and obese school children

• Most men with prostate cancer are vitamen D deficient

• There is a link between vitamin D deficiency and recurrent tonsillopharyngitis

• Vitamin D may be responsible for the metabolism of lipids (fat) and glucose (sugar) in the blood

• Low vitamin D may contribute to insulin resistance

• Vitamin D plays a role in gut barrier protection, indicating people with leaky gut may be vitamin D deficient

• Vitamin D plays a significant role in controlling inflammation

• Vitamin D protects against autoimmune diseases

• Vitamin D protects agains multiple sclerosis

• Vitamin D deficiency contributes to depression in men

• Low vitamin D is a risk factor for Covid-19 and hospitalization

To increase vitamin D levels without supplementation, sit in the sun without wearing sunscreen, for 15-40 minutes. Doing this daily can drastically improve your health.

If you choose to take a vitamin D supplement, vitamin D3 is the most bioavaible form. Dr. Eric Berg recommends 5,000-20,000 IU per day along with vitamin K2 at a 1000:10 ratio (for every 1000 IU of vitamin D3, take 10mcg of vitamin K2).