It's a well-known fact that vitamin D is important for bone health. But it's important for other reasons as well.

Low levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of heart-health issues, including heart attacks and strokes. While you do obtain some vitamin D through diet, the best source is sunlight. So now, while the evenings are short, it's important to make a concentrated effort to get some exposure to the sun.

Ten minutes of sun exposure is enough for people with light skin -- those with darker skin will need a little extra time. Try going for a walk during your lunch hour -- it's a perfect way to get your daily dose of sunlight while getting a little extra exercise as well.

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The days are so short now. By the time I've helped my son complete his homework and get dinner on the stove, it's pitch black outside. When it's dark out when you start your workday and dark when you get home, it can take a toll on your well-being. There are things you can do, though, to keep your energy running high during the darker days of winter. Here they are:

• Sun exposure. This time of year, it's important to get outside and spend some time in the sun. Even if it's just a 10-minute walk during your lunch hour, the sunlight will do you good.
• Exercise. An active lifestyle helps to keep you energized. Commit to exercising every day. That doesn't mean you have to have an intense hour-long workout every day. You can vary your workout doing short 10-minute bursts one day, a moderate 30-minute workout the next, and an intense, longer session on other days.
• Nutrition. Certain foods can help boost your energy. Healthcastle has tips on foods that will help increase energy. AOL Health also has a list of fatigue-fighting foods.

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It's summertime. We all want to be outside as much as we can, because before you know it, the days will be short and the ground will be covered with snow.

While getting about 20 minutes of sun each day is important for our vitamin D levels, too much sun can lead to painful burns and risks of skin cancer. One simple -- and fashionable -- way to protect yourself is by wearing a hat.

Healthy Hats is a great place to start shopping for the perfect sun protection. Besides offering lifeguard hats and adventurer hats (think safari), they've got sun smart tips to help you enjoy the sun safely.

We have all heard that pets can help teach kids patience, responsibility, and empathy, but according to a recent study, having a dog in the home during childhood, especially during the first year of infancy, seriously decreased a child's likelihood of developing sensitivities to allergens like pollen. Our own Maggie first broke this story a few days ago but it's worth repeating for those thinking about investing in a canine commitment -- and for those who like photos of cute kids and cute dogs. See gallery that follows.

So the science behind this theory is that dogs bring germs inside on their coats and in their mouths, thus exposing kids to them and boosting the child's immune system. Older generations were often exposed to more dirt and germs as children (you know, because kids used to actually play outside instead of sitting indoors playing video games), and therefore developed a greater resistance to many allergens than kids today.

This study in particular has taken blood samples from 3,000 six-year-olds and will test the samples for hints that the child might become allergic to things like pet hair, dust mites, and pollen. The children will be retested at age 10, but the lead researcher has already stated with confidence that, "Our results show clearly that the presence of a dog in the home during infancy is associated with a significantly low level of sensitization to pollens and allergens."

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Scientists are discovering that even though lead has been phased out of our environment, those elderly who were exposed decades ago are still feeling the effects. Apparently lead exposure back then has a strong link to their mental decline now.

This flies in the face of what many considered to be a "natural aging" of the brain's decline. However, researchers are quick to note that this is not the sole cause of mental decline as the years wear on. What they are saying is that this exposure has accumulated in their bodies, and still affects their health decades later by causing the brain to work like it's five years older. We live in a time where almost everything we touch is treated with a chemical. But the problem back then was that they didn't realize the full effects of lead.

Thankfully environmental levels dropped dramatically starting in the mid-70's so that by 1990 the amount of lead in the average American had dropped by 80 percent. However, lead in the bone which was contracted in the past can still be measured today (everyone has some level of it in their bodies). More research is needed to figure out the mechanism by which lead stays in the system and how it influences brain aging. Hopefully they can pin it down and cut lead out of our every day interactions even more.

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Second-hand smoke is despicable any way you slice it (although I've heard vehement disagreements to that statement), but let's go beyond the standard health issues it can cause non-smokers, shall we?

A new study finds that second-hand smoke also affects the test scores of non-smoking teens. Sounds weird, right? Research out of Temple University states that those in the 16-18 age bracket that were exposed to second-hand smoke were 30 percent less likely to pass standardized tests compared to their peers.

Now, I'm not sure how the researchers observed exposure to second-hand smoke in the lives of these kids outside of a survey, but the results are interesting nonetheless. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests second-hand smoke does indeed affect test scores, so this study can be added to that list now.

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Have you ever measure the level of industrial chemicals circulating or at rest in your system? If you live nearby a chemical plant or are in a smog-ridden city, you probably have high levels of some chemicals inside your body.

Scientists have been increasing the testing for industrial chemicals in newer techniques that were developed less than 10 years ago, and some have found the results very shocking. Could you imagine an 18 month-old having toxic substances in his body that would lead to a heavy potential for sickness if found in an adult? This new "biomonitoring" is telling the tale for some parents.

Even household chemicals and shampoos are generally nasty, unless they use biodegradable and organic ingredients. Problem is, many don't. Research methylparaben (in shampoos and lotions) and the items used to make dyes (like FD&C Red 40), and prepare to be shocked.

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You can spend a fortune on fancy face moisturizers and wrinkle-reducing eye-creams, botox yourself into an expressionless oblivion and go through the pain of plastic surgery in order to stay young looking (and I say go for it, if you've got the money and it makes you feel good about yourself), but no matter what you do to keep your face looking young, if you forget to look after your hands as well, they'll be a dead giveaway to your real age.

Sun exposure over the years as well as the natural aging process result in things like dryness, sunspots and bulging veins, which all act as aging agents on your hands. Moisturizers with SPF as well as alpha-hydroxy acids can help prevent and treat thin and dry skin, as well as sun spots. For more ideas on products and treatments -- both cheap and not-so-cheap -- that will help you keep your hands looking as young and fit as the rest of you, check out the information provided here.

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Just because you spend a lot of time in the sun doesn't mean you don't have to worry at all about your vitamin D levels. A study of Hawaiians with about 3 hours per day of self-reported sun exposure showed that 51% of them fell into ranges considered low. Considering experts say you only need about 15 minutes of sun on your hands and face to produce adequate levels of vit D, this is a bit surprising.

It just goes to show that more sun isn't necessarily better, and that other healthy habits like eating right also contribute. Low levels of vitamin D can help lead to osteoporosis, cancer, multiple sclerosis, infections, hypertension, and diabetes. To make sure you're getting enough talk with your doctor about having your levels checked and make sure you incorporate vitamin D rich foods (seafood, fortified milk, and eggs to name a few) into your diet regularly.

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