Most people do not meet their requirements for vitamin D with food, they get it from sunlight. Exposing a few of inches of skin to sunlight for ten minutes a day provides all the vitamin D you need. Good food sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, eggs, liver, vitamin D-fortified milk and butter, but concern about heart attacks has caused many North Americans to reduce their of these foods. At the same time, concern about skin cancer has caused many people to reduce their exposure to sunlight. Many senior citizens develop vitamin D deficiency because they do not go outdoors at all.
Vitamin D is necessary to keep bones strong.
You can meet your daily needs for vitamin D without adding a lot of fat to your diet by drinking vitamin D-fortified skim milk, eating fish, taking a supplement that contains 400 international units of vitamin D, or getting some sunlight unimpeded by glass. 20895 Transcripts of segments of The Dr. Gabe Mirkin Show are provided as a service to listeners at no charge. Dr. Mirkin's opinions and the references cited are for information only, and are not intended to diagnose or prescribe. For your specific diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor or health care provider.