Vitamin D is important for many aspects of a persons health, but during the winter months it may be difficult to meet daily requirements.
Creighton University researcher Joan Lappe told NaturalNews.com that people who live in North America above the 37th parallel may be lacking in the sunshine vitamin for much of the year.
“From October until the end of March, the angle of the sun is such that, in much of North America, no vitamin D is available from that source,” she explained.
In contrast, during the summer months, when the sun is at an optimal angle, people are able to convert sunshine into a sufficient amount of vitamin D with just 15 minutes of exposure per day, she said.
Another problem inherent in obtaining an adequate level of the vitamin is that it does not naturally occur in many food sources.
For this reason, some health experts recommend that people take vitamin D nutrition supplements, particularly during the winter.
There has been a great deal of debate in recent years about how much vitamin D is best for the human body. Dr John Cannell of the Vitamin D Council says that 5000 units of D3 per day is optimal.