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The Benefits of Vitamin D
Sunlight is electromagnetic energy radiating from the sun in waves. These waves, which are similar to those found in the ocean, have regular peaks and valleys. The distance between peaks ranges from very long to minuscule. Only a small portion of the total electromagnetic spectrum ever reaches earth due to the protective atmospheric layer. However, some does reach our eyes in the form of a visible spectrum of light from red to violet. Infrared and ultraviolet waves are also present, but we are not able to seem them. Infrared provides us with warmth and the ultraviolet provides us with the nutrient vitamin D. Ultraviolet or UV light has been divided into three sub groups designated UVA, UVB, and UVC. Ninety to ninety five percent of ultraviolet light falls into the UVA group and UVB makes up most of the rest. We find the most health benefits in this group of light waves. Unfortunately, UV light is also responsible for aging and damaging skin. Vitamin D is a nutrient essential for the proper maintenance of strong, healthy bones. A deficiency in vitamin D in children can lead to rickets and in adults may cause the loss of bone minerals which weakening the bones causing a disorder known as osteomalacia. Exposure to sunlight solves both problems. When sunlight hits our exposed skin, UVB waves cause a chemical change in a special type of cholesterol we have in our skin. This cholesterol is converted to a precursor of vitamin D in an inactive form which then migrates through the blood to the liver where it is converted into active vitamin D. As vitamin D is not readily found in the food we eat, regular sunshine is our primary source. With the negative effects of too much sunlight well known, many people are not getting enough. The reasons are avoidance of the sun and the proliferation of sunblocks and sunscreens. The concern over skin cancer is real and should not be taken lightly, however we all need to realize that the sun is also vital to life. Vitamin D acts as a kind of director for strong bones as it stimulates the absorption of dietary calcium and phosphorous from the intestines. Your bones may not be growing any bigger but they are continually renewing and remodeling themselves creating a continuous need for new bone tissue. The right amount of sunlight depends on a number of factors. Fair skinned people need less sun then darker skinned individuals. People living in the northern hemisphere should be aware that between November and February the sun may not be intense enough for the body to produce vitamin D. 
The basic rules of thumb for getting the right amount of sun are:
Here are even more reasons for taking Vitamin D:
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