Vitamin D is sometimes called the sunshine vitamin because exposure to natural sunlight causes the body to produce Vitamin D. Going by the name cholecalciferol, it’s an important building block of strong teeth and bones. It works hand in hand with calcium and is a helper vitamin for proper calcium utilization.
The recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D is 400 IU per day, though many doctors are suggesting up to 1000 to 2000 IU as a better daily allowance. In healthy people, exposure to just 15 minutes of sunlight 3 times a week is sufficient for the body to produce 400 IU of Vitamin D, but longer exposure on a regular basis can produce more and could be a factor in reducing diabetes and other diseases. There is a danger from taking too much Vitamin D, but that’s usually in excess of 10,000 to 20,000 IU. It causes too much calcium absorption. This can lead to deposits of calcium settling into various soft tissues resulting in general weakness, kidney stones, and even vomiting.
Vitamin D is an important component of the body’s natural way of absorbing calcium and phosphorus needed for proper growth of bones and teeth. Without enough Vitamin D, bones and teeth do not develop at a normal rate. In extreme cases of Vitamin D deficiency, the disease rickets can develop. This is a debilitating bone disease.
The easiest way to ensure that there is enough Vitamin D in the body is to get exposure to the sun on a regular basis. Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin so after exposure to the sun, the body produces natural Vitamin D. Vitamin D, in the form of cholecalciferol, is added to milk and milk products. This ensures that the body has enough Vitamin D to properly absorb the calcium in milk.
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