Essential for brain health, a strong immune system and weight management, Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin that your body can get through sun exposure, food or supplements.

However, nearly 50 percent of the population worldwide suffers from vitamin D3 deficiency? Of those at special risk are older adults and those people with limited sun exposure.

It’s dubbed the “sunshine vitamin,” because your body can make it through sun exposure. Therefore, health professionals now recommend getting at least 5-30 minutes of sun exposure daily. Sounds easy, eh? Well, for those living too far from the equator, getting that daily sunshine fix can be tricky.

To add to the problem, vitamin D3 is found naturally in only a handful of foods, including cod liver oil, sardines, salmon, mackerel, mushrooms and raw milk. Don’t fancy fish and the like? Quality supplementation is advised to meet the recommended daily amount of 600 IU.

There are many benefits to vitamin D3, but these three top our list of reasons why you should make friends with this super hero vitamin.

1. Brain Power: Vitamin D is important for brain health and promising research has shown a link between Alzheimer’s disease and vitamin D deficiency. It’s not to say that a vitamin D supplement will prevent this awful disease. Still with around 90% of Alzheimer’s disease patients having low levels of vitamin D, researchers are taking heed.
2. Immune System Support: Vitamin D strengthens immune defenses. One study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who received a 1200 IU/day of vitamin D had a 42% reduction in influenza A during the winter months in most of North America.
3. Joint Health: Research shows that adult women who took just 400 IU/day of vitamin D had a 40% reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Another study showed high dose vitamin D supplementation resulted in symptom improvements in an astonishing 89% of patients, with 45% experiencing complete remission.

LEARN MORE