Even though I suffered from life-threatening melanoma, I exercise healthy sun exposure throughout the year. I encourage supplementation with vitamin D and get (more than) my share of green leafy vegetables and foods high in vitamin D to ensure my body's optimal health and performance.

ScienceDaily presents this new article summarizing some of our latest breakthroughs in vitamin D research. Amongst the top findings are it's role in preventing cancer, improving bone metabolism and muscle strength, reducing hypertension and autoimmune disease.

• Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that functions as a hormone in the body, regulating calcium metabolism.
• Most people living above 40 degrees latitude do not obtain enough vitamin D from about mid-November to early March.
• Infants who are exclusively breast-fed, and are not supplemented with vitamin D, are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, because human milk generally doesn't’t have adequate levels.
• People with dark-colored skin have significantly less ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight, as do the elderly.
• Obesity increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency because obese individuals cannot easily access the vitamin D stored in body fat.

Make it a priority to get your daily dose and get stronger, today!