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In this video, Dr. Joseph Mercola discusses the important facts about vitamin D3.

The important points to take away from this video include:

• Overall health benefits of vitamin D are enormous.  Our bodies are probably supposes to get vitamin D via sunlight hitting our skin. 
• In sunlight, ultraviolet light is the important wavelength for skin exposure.  There are two main components of this wavelength that you should know about.  Ultraviolet B (UVB) is important in increasing the levels of vitamin D in our body.   UVA is what can cause cancer.
• Skin can make up to 20,000 units of vitamin D3 in one day through sun exposure.
• If you use sunlight for vitamin D, you need to be careful because of the dangers of burning. 
• Between 10am and 2pm are the best times to get sun exposure. 
• The darker your skin, the longer you need In the sun.
• Clothing can block most of the UVB so you need to expose your skin.  The more skin, the more vitamin D.
• When showering after exercise in he sun, don’t use soap for 30 – 60 minutes so vitamin D can be absorbed into the blood stream.
• Windows block most of the helpful UVB rays.
• Obesity can impair the production of vitamin D in the skin.  Also, the heavier you are, the more vitamin D you need.
• Sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB, so you’ll limit your skins ability to produce vitamin D3.  The higher the SPF, the less vitamin D you’ll make.
• The further north your are (closer to one of the poles), the less powerful the sun’s rays, so you’ll need more exposure to get your vitamin D.  If you live far north, you can use safe tanning beds or vitamin D3 supplement (do not take vitamin D2 supplements).
• If you take supplements,monitor your vitamin D via blood testing to make sure you stay within the therapeutic range (watch the video for recommended ranges).