Get Your Daily Vitamin DThe Sunshine VitaminVitamin D, known as the Sunshine Vitamin because exposure to the sun is the primary way our bodies make vitamin D, has many health benefits. The catch-22 of vitamin D is that exposure to the sun also causes cancer. Our use of sunscreen to prevent cancer is also reducing our skin's ability to absorb the sun's rays and make vitamin D in the body. 
What Does Vitamin D Do?Perhaps most importantly, Vitamin D helps the body absorb and use calcium, which is essential for healthy, strong bones and teeth. This is why many dairy foods and other products are fortified with Vitamin D. Vitamin D also helps balance the ratio of calcium and phosphorous in the body. Where Can We Get Vitamin D?Food Sources of Vitamin D
There are only a few food sources of vitamin D:
The only natural food sources of vitamin D are:
Vitamin D SupplementsIt is very difficult to get the recommended daily intake of vitamin D through food, so most health and vitamins experts agree that people who do not get at least 15 to 20 minutes of exposure to the sun per day should take a vitamin D supplement. One vitamin D supplement available is Carlson Laboratories - Vitamin D, 2000 IU, 120 softgels Babies under one year old and people over 50 are in need of higher amounts of vitamin D than others. Babies need extra vitamin D to help with the early formation of strong bones and teeth. Elderly people need extra vitamin D to reduce the loss of bone density that contributes to fractures and osteoporosis. Many doctors will recommend a Vitamin D supplement for babies and older people and others who do not get enough natural sunlight. You should always check with your doctor or another health care provider before giving your baby any supplements or taking them yourself. |
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