It’s called vitamin D, but it really isn’t a vitamin at all. Today, researchers see it as more of a hormone than a nutrient. A major source of this so-called vitamin is unique: Unlike other vitamins, we get far more vitamin D from sun exposure than from food. This compound is made in your skin, activated by your liver and kidneys, and fueled by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
When scientists first discovered vitamin D, they saw it as a cure for a disfiguring childhood bone disease called rickets. The connection earned vitamin D a reputation for bone health, but researchers have since found many more health benefits linked to the sunshine vitamin, such as improved immune function and metabolism, as well as acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.
