You often hear about Vitamin D in general, but not so much about Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is a fat soluble vitamin that is stored in the body’s soft tissues. There are actually two different forms of this essential D vitamin. The first is found in milk, tuna, eggs, and more and the second is cholecalciferol which is produced by the body when it comes into contact with sunlight. This is vitamin D3, which although can be found through direct sunlight, it can also be found in supplemental form as well.

Many people choose to take a Vitamin D3 supplement because of the additional benefits that it offers the body. First and foremost, it promotes healthy teeth and bones in children, as well as calcium absorption, bone mass, the prevention of bone loss, and prevents against muscle weakness. It can also lower the risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Vitamin D3 also improves the immune system and can help to prevent auto immune diseases. Even rheumatoid arthritis is improved with vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 prevents and is a treatment for rickets, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, hypoglycemia, bone disorders, psoriasis, vitiligo, and scleroderma. In some cases multiple sclerosis can be treated with vitamin D3 as well.

Osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children are signs that someone is deficient in vitamin D3. It is much more common for adults to be deficient because of their lack of dairy intake. This is why it is so crucial to supplement your diet with vitamin D3 especially if you are vegan, lactose intolerant or you simply have an aversion to sun. Sunlight in itself is quite harmful and although vitamin D3 can be found through the sun, it is not recommended that you get more than 15 minutes of sunlight per day. If you don’t get this amount, then vitamin D3 supplements can be quite helpful to keep your body healthy.