Today is the Day, Vitamin D Day that is! Organizations from all over the world are calling you to be aware of vitamin D and help spread awareness.

Most know that vitamin D does not come from your diet, but rather from your skin when you expose it to the sun. What most people don’t know is that in the wintertime it’s hard to make vitamin D.

As November approaches, the sun shifts its focus on the southern hemisphere and is no longer shining overhead in the North. What does this mean? It means that your skin is no longer able to produce much vitamin D.

Hence why organizers are calling for vitamin D awareness this November 2nd as we head into winter.

Get involved!

Check out the page Vitamin D Day on Facebook. Organizers are using the page as a hub for all the happenings on Vitamin D Day.

Plus, you can use it a place to share graphics and information to your friends and family, to help educate others. Also join in the conversation on Twitter, the hashtag will be #VitaminDDay.

See all details here.

Other happenings

Vitamin D Council is offering free one-month memberships to their blog for anyone that emails November 2nd requesting membership. To redeem free one-month membership from the Vitamin D Council, email [email protected] with the title “Vitamin D Day” in the heading. GrassrootsHealth is putting on a photo contest, asking for photos of you, showing off how you’re spreading awareness this Vitamin D Day.

GrassrootsHealth is initiating a photo contest to invite everyone to share a photo (with description) about some event that they do to celebrate awareness of the need to correct this deficiency. The winning photographer will win a 1 year supply of vitamin D3 for their own personal use. Interested participants should submit a photo with names, contact information and date of photo to [email protected] by Friday, November 9, 2012 for consideration. The contest winner will be announced by December 2, 2012.

Who’s behind Vitamin D Day?

The Vitamin D Society promoted November as Vitamin D Awareness month in 2007, to help draw attention to vitamin D deficiency in Canada. “We are excited to grow this focus worldwide with other partner organizations by recognizing Vitamin D Day on November 2^{nd ,}” says Executive Director, Perry Holman.

InspireHealth established Vitamin D Day November 2nd in Canada in 2009. From its humble beginnings in Vancouver it has grown, supported by proclamations in communities across Canada, to an international event. This grassroots public health movement inspired Dr. James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni to introduce Bill C-388, An Act to establish National Vitamin D Day.

Joining InspireHealth and Dr. James Lunney in the promotion of Vitamin D Day – November 2nd are GrassrootsHealth, a public health research and advocacy group from San Diego CA, the Vitamin D Council, USA, Health Research Forum, UK and the Vitamin D Society, Canada.

Are you an organization interested in partnering or taking a pledge to spread awareness this year’s Vitamin D Day?

Email [email protected] or use the contact form on the Contact page.