While the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D have recently become better understood, our full appreciation of this vital nutrient's far-reaching importance in health is still in its infancy.

Thus far, vitamin D is known to play an important role in the prevention of:

• Heart disease
• Sixteen different types of cancer, including breast, colon and prostate
• Multiple sclerosis
• Diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Bone diseases, such as rickets, osteopenia, osteoporosis and osteomalacia
• Chronic muscle pain and weakness

It is well known that a long-term deficiency of vitamin D will almost certainly result in disease. I am so convinced of its importance that I routinely check blood levels of it on practically all of my patients, especially during the winter months or for those who don't get sun exposure in the summer.

I believe it is medical negligence, bordering on malpractice, to check a person's blood and not screen for this easily detectable, highly prevalent vitamin deficiency.

Of course, the most effective and safest way to ensure that your body has optimal levels of vitamin D is to get daily sun exposure. The key, though, is to not be deceived by conventional medical wisdom that sun will cause cancer. As long as you are getting safe doses of sunshine the exact opposite is true.

Insufficient sun exposure causes far more deaths than too much sun exposure.

If, for whatever reason, you are unable to get enough sun, it is vitally important that you supplement your diet with vitamin D. One of the best ways to do this is with high-quality cod liver oil.

Finally, if you want to reduce your risk of developing Parkinson's disease, add vitamin D to the growing list of natural treatment options available to help you do so:

• Start an exercise routine today.

• Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like solvents, pesticides and insecticides.

• Maintain balanced iron levels.

• Eat foods high in folic acid.

• Resolve issues that spur poor emotional health by learning the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

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The Secret of Vitamin D Production