Vitamin D is a nutrient needed for health and to maintain strong bones. When exposed to sunlight, your body naturally makes vitamin D. Vitamin D functions like a hormone and every single cell in the body has a receptor for it. Some people may struggle with producing enough vitamin D on their own. This is when a vitamin D pill would be helpful.

Vitamin D does a number of important jobs in the body. Without the nutrient, you cannot properly absorb calcium, a key mineral required for strong bones and teeth. In addition, your muscles need vitamin D to move properly and your nervous system requires the nutrient to send messages to and from your brain. Plus, vitamin D helps your immune system protect you from viruses and bacteria.

Your body can manufacture small amounts of vitamin D when you're exposed to the sun. In addition, vitamin D is found in a number of foods, including fatty fish, egg yolks, beef liver and mushrooms. The nutrient is also added to some dairy products and breakfast cereals. People who are severely lacking in vitamin D may develop a condition called rickets, which causes the bones to become soft. Vitamin D deficiency symptoms may also include muscle weakness and pain can also stem from low vitamin D levels. People who are most likely to become deficient of vitamin D may include individuals who spend all of their time indoors, infants who are exclusively breastfed and those who cover all of their skin for style or religious reasons. Vitamin D deficiency can often be addressed with supplements.

Foods high in vitamin D include fatty fish like tuna and salmon, some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, cereals, egg yolks - and that's just to name a few.

There are quite a few vitamin D benefits. Due to the functions of vitamin D in the body, health care professionals may recommend supplements for individuals with certain medical concerns. Often, vitamin D is taken along with calcium supplements to improve absorption and promote healthy teeth and bones. Additionally, the vitamin is sometimes used to support the immune system and as a complementary intervention for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Before taking a vitamin D supplement, talk to your medical provider about your nutritional concerns. He or she can help you determine if a supplement is right for you and can give you guidelines regarding how much vitamin D you should take each day. Unless a health-care provider gives you other advice, only use vitamin D supplements as directed by the manufacturer.

Vitamin D (D2) comes from plant sources like wild mushrooms, as well as foods like milk or cereal products. The different strengths are measured in international units, or "IU". Lower strengths are usually available over-the-counter, but there are stronger grades available through prescription. Since Vitamin D costs less to produce, it is usually what is found in most fortified foods.

Vitamin D3 usually comes from more natural sources or animal sources like aceite de pescado, fatty fish, liver, and egg yolks. Vitamin D3 is also produced when your skin is exposed to sunlight. All forms of vitamin D3 are available over-the-counter. You can also find D3 measured in IU as well.