What is Vitamin D?

A simple answer to the question is, it’s a molecule that is essential for the human body.

Despite it being called a “vitamin” Vitamin D is a hormone, because of how many functions it has in the body, and how it can be produced in the body.

As most of us already know, Vit.D is produced naturally when we’re exposed to enough sunlight. Our Skin produces it. Whats interesting is what happens afterward.

Have you ever wondered why Vitamin D is ADDED to some dairy products? It is added because it gets converted in the Kidneys and Liver to Calcitrol. That hormone stimulates the intake of calcium in the small intestine. Vitamin D is added to dairy products to stimulate the absorption of the “calcium already present in the dairy”.

Something that intrigued me recently is this study, that shows Vitamin D having direct effects on Testosterone production in men. Vitamin D deficiency was directly correlated with a lack of testosterone production. When Vitamin D was added to the same steroid producing tissues, the tissues started to produce higher levels of testosterone. If you are a man you’ll greatly benefit from that beach day or that walk in the park, get outside!

If you’re looking to increase your Vitamin D levels heres how; direct exposure to sunlight on more than a quarter of your body for about 30 minutes is enough to create 1000 IU of Vitamin D which is way more than the daily amount. Another very easy way, if it’s a bit unrealistic for you to walk around shirtless lol, is to simply take Vitamin d3 supplements that are at least 1000 IU per pill. During the winter in places farther away from the equator, you SHOULD take a Vitamin D supplement because the intensity of the UV rays is a lot less potent.

Go Get some Sun!