Vitamin D For Dummies

Learn All about the "Nutrient of the Decade"

Vitamin D is in the news every day, as new tests and studies reveal information about its power in maintaining good health and preventing major illnesses. No longer thought to just play a role in calcium intake and bone growth, the "nutrient of the decade" has a host of other functions in the body, playing a role in prevention of many serious diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Vitamin D has also been shown to assist in boosting immunity, improving athletic performance, losing weight, and more.

For readers seeking more information, Dr. Alan L Rubin’s Vitamin D For Dummies (Wiley, 978-0-470-89175-9, June 2011) is a timely resource to in understanding how the vitamin works, how much is needed for disease prevention, how and where to get sufficient amounts of the right kind of Vitamin D, and how to maintain healthy levels. Parents will also find helpful information on the importance of the vitamin to growing children and the healthiest ways to ensure kids are getting adequate amounts.

Exposure to too much sun can be harmful, but avoiding the sun limits the body's ability to produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D For Dummies discusses the truth about sunscreen and UV absorption, as well as how much sun is enough (for any race or skin type), and how to reduce worries about skin cancers and other risks. Vitamin D can also be found in some foods, and milk is fortified with it as well. But if one is lactose intolerant, follows a vegan diet, or lives dairy-free, vital sources of Vitamin D are cut off. The book reveals alternative sources, including fish, fruits, and vegetables, as well as manufactured foods fortified with the vitamin. It also gives sound advice on which nutritional supplements provide sufficient amounts of Vitamin D.