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Author:
David Leonhardt

There is a secret vitamin in the neighborhood, wandering around your body under cover. This "vitamin" has just one single purpose, although some researchers believe he has ulterior motives. He goes by the inconspicuous codename of "D" – Vitamin D.

Don't be fooled by his clever disguise. D is no vitamin. He's a steroid hormone, slipping through your body under guise of a vitamin. And he doesn't have dozens of functions, like vitamin C or vitamin E, just one vital mission – to mineralize your bones!

Mineralization is a key objective of every body. Imagine if we all had flabby bones. The world would look like a Salvador Dali nightmare. Vitamin D saves us from having flabby bones.

More importantly, vitamin D saves us from having brittle bones. He prevents us from rickets and osteomalacia by balancing the calcium and phosphorous in our blood. Ooh, that D is a clever one. Not only is he a master of disguises, but he is a master chemist, constantly monitoring, measuring and balancing the mix so it just right to ensure everybody has strong and healthy bones.

Word on the grapevine is that 30% to 40% of hip fractures in elderly people are the result of insufficient vitamin D. So we caught up with D, and managed to slip away with a rare interview transcript:

"D, some of your fans can't get enough of you. What should they do?"

"Get plenty of sun. That is the key. Where the sun touches your skin, that's where I will be."

"But, D, what about people who can't? What about people in the far north, or those who wear head-to-toe clothing or who are stuck indoors?"

"If you find yourself overdressed in a dungeon in Mongolia, get a good multi-vitamin supplement."

"D, that's a wonderful idea."

"Or drink lots of milk, fortified with me, of course. Some breakfast cereals are fortified with me, too. I also hang out in a lot of saltwater fish, like tuna and sardines and herring and salmon. And I love to slip around in the ol' cod liver oil."

"So if we can't get enough sun, milk and fish will do the trick."

"That's right, but be careful about milk products. Not all of them are made with fortified milk. I make no commitment to be there if they are not."

"What about the supplements, D?"

"A good multivitamin supplement should do it for most people. Get a liquid supplement, cause those pills just don't digest. You just end up flushing me down the toilet...ooh, I hate that feeling."

"Yuck."

"And you shouldn't need a specific vitamin D supplement, because it is possible to overdose. And you wouldn't want too much of a guy like me around."

That was all we could slip through the lines. But I think we learned a lot about what it is like to live the life of a secret vitamin. To our hero, vitamin D, we offer our best wishes. May everybody get plenty of vitamin D to keep their bones strong and healthy for many years to come.

About the Author : David Leonhardt runs The Liquid Vitamin Supplements Store: http://www.vitamin-supplements-store.net Learn more about vitamin D: http://www.vitamin-supplements-store.net/vitamins/vitamin-d.html Or read up on other nutrition information: http://www.vitamin-supplements-store.net/nutrition-information.html Source: www.isnare.com

| Article Keywords: Nutrient Basics

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Nutrient Basics... Vitamin B Family B VITAMINS Thiamin (B1); Riboflavin (B2); Niacin (B3/B4); Pantothenic Acid (B5); Pyridoxine (B6); Biotin (B7); Inositol (B8); Folic Acid (B9); Para-aminobenzoic Acid (10); Choline (B11); Hydroxy / Cyanocobalamin (B12) Pangamic Acid/ Calcium Pangamate (B15) The vitamin B family consists of 15 different B vitamins. B Vitamins help us use energy. Its like putting a sandwich up against your forehead. Not going to do you any good is it? All B vitamins are all required for different stages of the process whereby energy is released from the food we eat every day. Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine): RDA 1.2 MG Vitamin B-1 is a water soluble vitamin. It is known to be beneficial to the nervous system and positive mental state. B-1 aids digestion and promotes growth. Things such as cooking vegetables, drinking alcohol or caffeine, and even antacids can destroy this essential vitamin. Its main role is to break down carbohydrates from food and convert them into sugar Thiamine is destroyed by alcohol, so many alcoholics are thiamine deficient Thiamine is found in pork, sunflower seeds and peanuts Thiamine is added to many cereals Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin): RDA 1.7 MG This easily absorbed water soluble vitamin is needed for tissue repair and healthy skin. It also helps the body use oxygen and aids in the formation of healthy antibodies and red blood cells. Helps body release energy from proteins, carbs and fats Food sources include milk, cheese, yogurt, beef, and green vegetables Riboflavin is destroyed by light-if you have breads that contain riboflavin, keep them in the dark Vitamin B-3/4 (Nicain/Niacinamide): RDA 20 MG Water soluble Niacin is important to the brain's functions, and in promoting healthy skin, nervous and digestive systems. Niacin is also a natural...