Vitamin D3 is an important nutrient. It provides support for the immune system and bone health, and is considered an essential vitamin that we all need everyday.† Of course, the question is, are you getting enough?

Our bodies synthesize vitamin D3 from exposure to sunlight. Of course, anyone who lives in a northern latitude during winter knows that bright sunny days can be a scarce commodity. However, there is a way to provide your body with sunshine in a bottle without the harmful rays.

Vitamin D Supports Healthy Bones†
Vitamin D has typically been associated with healthy bones, and for good reason.† It helps increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, two key bone-building minerals, in our intestines, and protects bone-building compounds called "osteoblasts".†

There's nothing wacky about vitamin D. The benefits of supplementation are well established science. In fact, women with low serum levels of the nutrient who increased their intake of vitamin D showed an increase in calcium absorption by up to 65%.†  That can make a real difference for bone support.†

Perhaps lesser known, but just as important, is Vitamin D3's support of a healthy immune system.†

Vitamin D Supports Immune Health†
Macrophages are scavenger cells that are assembled from white blood cells and act as one of the caretakers of our immune system. Some move throughout the body, while others are stationed to guard specific organs and tissues. Vitamin D supports the immune system by helping stimulate macrophage cell activity.†

Certain areas of the body, including breast, brain, prostate, and colon tissue have receptor cells that are activated by the precursor form of vitamin D, and serve as a kind of "docking station" for the nutrient, especially helpful when immune support is needed.† To explore what this means in greater detail, exciting new research is focusing on the ability of vitamin D to enhance healthy cell replication and division.† Vitamin D may be more important than we ever realized.

1000 IU of Vitamin D - More of a Good Thing
Traditionally, the recommended daily intake of vitamin D has been 400 IU. However, researchers are beginning to wonder whether this accurately meets the need to support bone and immune health, especially for those who may not have much exposure to sunlight.

In fact, clinical research has shown that supplementation with Vitamin D at dosages of 700-800 IU daily or higher has been associated with a 23-26% improvement in bone health, especially for older adults.†

Vitamin D3: A Strong Form Easily Used by the Body†
There are two types of vitamin D available as supplements; vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, and vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol.

Vitamin D3 is the same variety created in the body. As a supplement, it generally comes from some type of animal source. (The D3 in PhytoPharmica's supplement is from wool oil, a by-product of wool processing, and no sheep are harmed.)

Generally, vitamin D2 is either produced from plant sources or synthesized. Because of this, it is the form most preferred by vegans and some vegetarians. While both forms will help support bone health, supplemental D3 raises serum levels of the nutrient 2 to 3 times higher than the same doses of D2.† The body simply has less work to do by assimilating a vitamin that's already in a form it can use right away.†

Keep your Health from Getting the Winter Blahs
Winter can be tough on our health. Between eating a lot of comforting (but not necessarily healthy) foods and not getting out much for exercise, fresh air and sunlight, it's easy to let our bodies get a case of the winter blahs. But it's not inevitable. You can get sunshine in a bottle all year long with Vitamin D3.