Vitamin D - from the sun, from our diet and from dietary supplements - keeps a range of chronic and life-threatening diseases at bay, from osteoporosis and osteoarthritis to cancer of the breast, prostate and colon; diabetes; multiple sclerosis; asthma; cystic fibrosis; Crohn's disease; scleroderma; rickets; cardiovascular disease; and many others. This wide-ranging volume spotlights the latest research into how and why this much-maligned and misunderstood vitamin is finally coming into its own and how to gain the greatest benefits from it. Inside, readers will learn: * How and why vitamin D is crucial to helping the body absorb calcium and phosphorous and to strengthening bones. * How the news media often exaggerate the dangers of sunshine and downplay the benefits of vitamin D from the sun and other sources. * How much sun exposure and/or vitamin D supplementation is needed by people of all skin types. * Why older adults are especially prone to vitamin D deficiency and how they can best address this for optimal health.