Reason number one - you need adequate sunshine on enough of your skin to produce Vitamin D. If you live in a northern latitude, work long hours, avoid sun to avoid skin cancer risk, or have pigmented skin you probably need to supplement.

Reason two - The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for Vitamin D was set too low. Recent research has shown that Vitamin D is not nearly as toxic as it was thought to be when the RDI was established. Above 40,000 IU per day (international units - 40IU= 1microgram, a micro gram is 1/1,000,000th of a gram) of Vitamin D may be toxic. Though you could probably consume 10,000IU per day, 1000 IU should be sufficient to meet all your needs. (Ask your health care provider.)

Reason three - Everyone, men later than post-menopausal women are at risk for softening of the bones(osteoporosis). Vitamin D supplementation can reduce this bone softening risk and reduce your risk of fracture.

Reason four - Inadequate blood levels of Vitamin D increase our risk of certain cancers.

Reason five - There is an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency. Having this deficiency during pregnancy may cause a neurologic problem in the fetus leading to autism.

Your homework actions:

If you get less than 15 minutes of full sunshine per day on more than just the skin of your hands and face, ask your Doctor about taking a Vitamin D3 supplement (cholecalciferol). About 1000 IU or 25 micrograms per day is an adequate amount.

Assignment number two: Ask your physician about Vitamin D and when he/she would test for deficiency? Compare their answer to this article and leave a comment here about your experience.

If you take Vitamin D already, what brand do you take and how much? If you take Vitamin D, have you told your doctor? Tell me about your experience.

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