Surprising Benefits of Vitamin D

New studies have found that vitamin D may protect against some types of cancer and help fight heart disease. Vitamin D can be found in certain foods & supplements and is created naturally with exposure to sunlight. Approximately fifteen minutes of sun exposure to the arms, hands, face, or back (without sunscreen) at least twice a week is recommended to attain your RDI (recommended daily intake) of vitamin D. Michael Holick, M.D., Ph.D., endocrinologist at Boston University and author of The UV Advantage states, "getting enough vitamin D may be one of the most important factors in decreasing your risk for a number of chronic diseases." Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression, peripheral artery disease, type I diabetes, and death from kidney disease.