The Whole You Issue 3, November 2016 | Page 12

to note that you cannot receive enough of this vitamin (D) for the body to function properly through food alone, so sun exposure or a supplement is necessary. In a place like Canada during wintertime that means vitamin D is a supplement you need to be mindful of and take daily. When your body receives vitamin D it goes to the liver, kidneys and other tissues in the body. There, its’ converted forms help manage the amounts of calcium in your blood, bones and gut and help the cells in your body communicate optimally. Benefits for Body With more people in North America spending time indoors and wearing sunscreen when outside, the vitamin D deficiency has risen and with it, the growing concern for serious symptoms such as heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and cancer. Any lack or deficiency of vitamin D in the body can lead to these serious complications. Children with a deficiency are at risk for rickets (osteomalacia in adults), which causes soft, thin and brittle bones. Maintaining the proper levels of vitamin D in the body is essential in the prevention and treatment of the illnesses listed above. Vitamin D is also essential for bone health. No matter how much calcium or magnesium your body takes in, it will not absorb these nutrients properly without enough vitamin D in the system. Vitamin D contributes to a healthy immune system as it helps the body fight infection. It also aids in the optimal function of the muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems and is said to have anti-cancer effects.