Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which makes your bones strong. This vitamin may also promote heart health. Research suggests that people with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop heart failure. The Institute of Medicine recommends 600 IU of vitamin D daily for people ages 1 to 70 and 800 IU for adults ages 71 and older.
You can get Vitamin D from food and supplements. Not many foods have vitamin D, however. The best natural food sources are egg yolks, saltwater fish and liver. Milk, many breakfast cereals and some brands of orange juice are fortified with vitamin D.
It is possible for your body to make vitamin D when sunlight strikes your skin. However, too much sun increases the risk for skin cancer and should be avoided. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends getting vitamin D from your diet and supplements, not from the sun.
Source: Good Neighbor Pharmacy Connection, January 2013
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