Imagine a world without the sun's heat and light…life on Earth would not exist.

Up to 50% of the world's population might not be getting enough sun, leaving many people deficient in vitamin D, the only nutrient your body produces when exposed to sunlight.

This is partly because people are spending more time indoors, wear sunscreen outside, and eat a diet low in quality sources of vitamin D.

With world-wide attention focused on the importance of vitamin D, here’s what you need to know.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a micronutrient that is needed for optimal health throughout your whole life.

It is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it dissolves in fat/oil and can be stored in the body for long periods of time. There are two main forms, D2 and D3; D3 being more effective.

Vitamin D is also unique, because it is both a nutrient we eat, and a hormone that our body makes from exposure to sunlight, which is why it is often named the ‘sunshine’ vitamin. 

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After teaching my class yesterday morning, I made a trip over to Basil Bandwagon (I love this place!) to get a fresh Blueberry Protein Smoothie. As I entered the store, there was a display of this product.  It piqued my curiosity because I am always looking for different ways to feed my body awesome stuff and share it with my peeps.

As soon as I got home, I pulled out my juicer and ninja to make my smoothie.  Here’s how I did it:

Step 1: In the juicer (If you do not have a juicer, no worries, you can put all ingredients into your smoothie blender, it will just have a different consistency

• 1 “ fresh ginger (unpeeled, peeled if you are not using a juicer)
• 12” English cucumber (unpeeled, peeled if you are not using a juicer)
• ½ of a lemon skin removed (if not using a juicer, remove seeds)
• 1 granny smith apple, cut in 4 pieces (unpeeled, peeled, and pitted if you are not using a juicer)

Run them all through the juicer. 

Step 2: In the Ninja:

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