Did you know that Vitamin D is not really a Vitamin at all?

It's true!  Vitamin D is actually what is known as a prohormone.  Prohormones are substances that can be converted into hormones.  Vitamin D has been found in life forms dating back over 750 million years, and almost all plants and animals exposed to sunlight can produce Vitmain D. 

In humans, vitamin D is critically important for the development, growth, and maintenance of a healthy body, from gestation until death.  Its metabolic product, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), is actually a secosteroid hormone that is the key which unlocks binding sites on the human genome. The human genome contains more than 2,700 binding sites for calcitriol; those binding sites are near genes involved in virtually every known major disease of humans.  It is for this reason that a Vitamin D deficiency can affect every aspect of human health and function.

According to the Vitamin D Council, some of the benefits of Vitamin D include:
• Blood sugar balance
• Immune system booster
• Regulates blood pressure
• Natural anti-inflammatory
• Prevents depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Decreases muscle and joint pain
• Weight management
• Prevention against many forms of cancer

The Vitamin D Council also reports that the incidence of Vitamin D deficiency is a world wide epidemic, with more than 50% of the earth's population being affected.  In the United States, African Americans have the highest incidence of Vitamin D deficiency. This is due to increased skin pigmentation, which acts as a natural sun block, thus decreasing the amount of Vitmain D that can be made by the skin.

Acne                                             Hypertension
Adrenal insufficiency                 Influenza
Air hunger                                    Kidney Disease
Allergies                                       Low back pain
Alzheimer's disease                    Lupus erythematosis
Arthritis                                        Melanoma
Asthma                                         Mental illness and Mood disorders
Autism                                          Multiple Sclerosis 
Autoimmune disorders              Muscle weakness and pain
Bacterial infections                     Obesity
Bones weak (easy fracture)       Osteo-arthritis
Breast cancer                               Osteomalacia (softening of bones)
Cancer (all types)                        Osteoporosis
Celiac disease                              Ovarian cancer
Colds and 'flu                               Parkinson's disease
Crohn's disease                           Periodontal disease 
Chronic fatigue                            Peripheral artery disease
COPD                                            Pelvic floor disorders
Chronic pain                                Pneumonia
Colonic adenoma                        Post-operative infections
Colorectal cancer                        Psoriasis
Cystic fibrosis                             Rheumatoid arthritis
Dementia                                      Rickets
Dental cavities                            Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Depression                                  Sepsis (Blood infection)
Diabetes (types 1 and 2)           Sports injuries
Fatigue                                         Tuberculosis
Gluten intolerance                      Urinary incontinence
Graves disease
Heart disease