Did you know that around 40% of the U.S. is deficient in vitamin D, which has been linked to bone health, cardiovascular disease, the immune system, and cancer?

Did you also know that by fortifying your bread with it, you could give people the adequate levels they need?

How do you add it?

Set your bread outside to soak up some rays? No, with specialized baker’s yeast! It’s pre-mix that’s a blend of vitamin D yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and wheat flour. And just like that, you have a fortified loaf!

Why do we need vitamin D?

It is a hormone that can be made in the human body or consumed in food or supplements. Because the body can make its own from sun exposure on the skin, it has been known as the “sunshine vitamin.” It is also commonly added to foods such as milk, baked goods, and cereals to help increase  calcium absorption.

Contrary to common belief, the skin itself does not make the vitamin D used in the body. Instead, sunshine triggers the skin to produce cholecalciferol, a substance that the liver converts to calcidiol. The kidneys then convert this to calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D.