In the world of nutrition, supplements live in murky territory. While we want to make sure we’re getting all of the vitamins, and minerals we need, research from Harvard Medical School shows that these nutrients are more powerful when they come from real foods as opposed to pills.

There's one vitamin in particular, though, that's pretty hard to get on your own, unless you live in a tropical locale: vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin. Here's why vitamin D is so important—and what you need to know about supplementing. 

One of the biggest roles vitamin D plays in your body is helping your bones grow. It has also been found to play a role in cell growth, reduction of inflammation, and neuromuscular function.

But that’s not where the benefits end, Research has linked sufficient vitamin D levels to everything from increased fertility and a reduced risk of breast cancer to fewer respiratory infections and even reduced severity in diseases like MS.