In earlier times, one would be challenged to be deficient in Vitamin D. Nowadays, it is assumed that 50% of individuals do not get enough. As a matter of fact, if you can think of one other person that gets extra sun compared to you, odds are it's you!

All fooling aside, vitamin D shortage is increasingly widespread which is a problem because of it?s importance in regulating more than 1000 genes. Insufficiency is connected to consequences as diverse as depression to poor bone health.

In the industrial revolution (also in several areas of the earth nowadays) an ailment termed rickets that caused disfigured bone growth in kids was alarmingly widespread, specifically in cities. However, kids of a similar economic background in the country didn't suffer. How could one vitamin have an effect on so many functions?

Why Vitamin D is part of your critical emergency supplies

Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of several nutrients and modulates many hormones in the body. The range of human hormones is really extensive which includes testosterone, estrogen, growth hormones, and serotonin.

Testosterone and growth hormones especially are necessary for muscle recovery that could become a big problem when bugging out. Serotonin is amongst the most essential neurotransmitters for regulating brain function and mood. There is even a theory for winter depression linked to lower vitamin d amounts.

But the most essential function for those who have children is appropriate bone growth. Vitamin D controls the absorption of calcium, among other things and deficiency of vitamin D is the primary reason for rickets, a condition which causes forever deformed growth.

Even for those with no kids, the advantages of maintaining strong bones in a post-apocalyptic world must be evident. If you cannot move, you will have a problem surviving.

Various forms, different sources

Vitamin D is a fat soluble molecule (just like vitamin A) which means you can store it if you wish to. There are two dietary supplies of Vitamin D. D2, or ergocalciferol is mostly present in plants and D3, or cholecalciferol is primarily found in animal sources. Just like vitamin A, the animal source is more absorbable to the body.

The most effective method to supplement D vitamins, in home and in the field

Vitamin D is not a nutritional vitamin in the strictest sense since it could be created by exposure of the human skin to sunlight. There are numerous factors leading into how much exact time you would have to get the appropriate level including type of skin, latitude, time of the year and weather conditions but I was able to find a nifty calculator to figure out the amount you will require.

This is bad news if your doomsday fortress of solitude happens to be a silo, underground complex or cave . However don't worry, for it is possible to supplement with vitamin D if required as well. Cold water fish, meats, eggs as well as mushrooms are excellent sources of vitamin D as well.

If you want to use a supplement - D3 is the most effective in terms of shelf stability as well as potency.