12 Ways to Get Your Daily Vitamin D

12 Ways to Get Your Daily Vitamin D

Easy
steps  to bulk up on the sunshine vitamin
Ella Quittner
 
Vitamin D is essential for bone health. Recent research  suggests it may have other
benefits, too, such as protecting against colds and  fighting depression.


The good news is that most people get enough vitamin D,  according to the Institute
of Medicine (IOM).


However, if you don't spend enough time in the sun or if your  body has trouble absorbing
the vitamin, you may not get enough. Here are 12 ways  to ensure adequate
intake.


Sunlight


Sunlight spurs the body to make vitamin D. But because of the  skin-cancer risk, there
isn't an official recommendation to catch some rays.  However, a small amount of
sun exposure without sunscreen can do the trick.


"If you're going to get it from the sun, about 20 to 25  minutes of exposure is
helpful," says Stephen Honig, MD, director of the  Osteoporosis Center at the
Hospital for Joint Diseases, in New York City.


The sun is less likely to provide your daily needs at higher  latitudes, in the
winter, or if you're older or dark skinned (skin pigment  blocks light and the
process is less efficient with age). And FYI: Light through  a window won't
work.
 
Vitamin D Benefits

Date:1/29/2010Duration: 001:0034Video By: HealthDay

Vitamin D linked to  lower risk of colorectal cancer.

 Fatty fish


Fatty fish can be a good source of vitamin D. Common options  include salmon, trout,
mackerel, tuna, and eel.


A 3-ounce sockeye salmon fillet contains about 450  international units (IUs) of
vitamin D—a good portion of the 600 IUs that is the  Institute of Medicine's
recommended dietary allowance (800 IUs if you're over  70).


And you get a bonus —heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids!


Canned tuna  fish


Fresh fish aren't the only way to boost your vitamin D intake;  you can get vitamin D
from a can, too.


Canned tuna fish and canned sardines both contain vitamin D,  and are usually less
expensive than fresh fish.


Plus, a longer shelf life makes the canned products easy to  stock up on and use at
your leisure. Canned light tuna has the most vitamin  D—about 150 IUs per 4
ounces—while canned albacore tuna has about 50 IUs per 4  ounces, and canned
sardines have a little more than 40 IUs per two sardines.


Certain  mushrooms


Just like humans, mushrooms have the capacity to produce  vitamin D when exposed to
ultraviolet light.


Mushrooms, however, are usually grown in the dark and don't  contain the vitamin. Specific
brands, however, are grown in ultraviolet light to  spur vitamin D
production.


Check to see if vitamin D–rich 'shrooms, like Dole's  Portobello Mushrooms, are
available at a store near you. They're perfect for  vegetarians looking for
plant-based foods that contain the vitamin. Dole's  portobellos will give you
400 IUs of vitamin D per 3-ounce serving (about 1 cup  of diced mushrooms).


Fortified  milk


Almost all types of cow's milk in the U.S. are fortified with  vitamin D, but ice cream
and cheese are not.


In general, an 8-ounce glass of milk contains at least 100 IUs  of vitamin D, and a
6-ounce serving of yogurt contains 80 IUs, but the amount  can be higher (or
lower) depending on how much is added.


Some soy and rice milks are fortified with about the same  amount, but check the
label since not all contain vitamin D.


Some types of orange  juice


Not a dairy fan? No problem. You can get vitamin D from  fortified orange juice.


One 8-ounce glass of fortified juice usually has around 100  IUs of vitamin D, but
the amount varies from brand to brand. Not all brands are  fortified, so check
the label.


Two fortified brands, Florida Natural Orange Juice and Minute  Maid Kids+ Orange
Juice, contain 100 IUs per 8-ounce serving.


Supplements


Vitamin D supplements can help you get your proper daily dose,  and as Dr. Honig points
out, you don't run into the issue of skin cancer as you  might with UV rays.
"And it's not like calcium," he says. "You don't have to  split up your vitamin
D dose; you can take it all at one time."


Too much vitamin D can be toxic, however. The IOM sets the  upper limit at 4,000 IUs
for people aged 9 and older. That includes all  sources—food, sun, and
supplements.


Talk to your doctor before choosing a dosage.


Egg yolks


Eggs are a convenient way to get vitamin D. They're popular in  many breakfast,
lunch, dinner, and dessert recipes.


Since the vitamin D in an egg comes from its yolk, it's  important to use the whole
egg—not just the whites. One yolk will give you about  40 IUs, but don't try to
get your daily vitamin D just from eggs.


One egg contains about 200 milligrams of cholesterol, and the  American Heart
Association recommends consuming no more than 300 milligrams a  day for heart
health.


Fortified  cereal


If you're a vitamin D seeker looking for a crunch, look no  further than fortified
cereals. Choose a low-calorie fortified cereal like Multi  Grain Cheerios to get
part of your daily fill of vitamin D. You can pair it with  fortified milk and a
glass of fortified OJ too.


A 1-cup (29 gram) serving of Multi Grain Cheerios with  one-half cup of fortified
milk is 90 IUs; add in an 8-ounce glass of fortified  orange juice, and your
total is close to 200 IUs.


 Beef liver


Although it might not be the most appealing source, a  3.5-ounce serving of cooked beef
liver contains about 50 IUs of vitamin D—and  several other nutrients. You'll
also be getting vitamin A, iron, and  protein.


However, beef liver is also high in cholesterol, so you might  want to choose an oily
fish instead.


Cod liver  oil


While its name might suggest a less-than-savory flavor, cod  liver oil is often
flavored with mint or citrus, or comes in capsule form.


One tablespoon contains about 1,300 IUs of vitamin D, which is  more than twice the
recommended dietary allowance of 600 IUs per day.


That amount doesn't exceed the maximum upper-level intake of  4,000 IUs for people
over 8 years old, but it exceeds the daily maximum for  infants (1,000 IUs).


Ultraviolet lamps and  bulbs


People at high risk of vitamin D deficiency may resort to  UV-emitting lamps and bulbs.
This includes people unable to absorb the vitamin  (malabsorption) or those who
can't get enough in winter months, says Michael F.  Holick, MD, a professor of
medicine, sociology, and biophysics at Boston  University Medical Center.


These are similar to tanning beds, but smaller. "The lamp is  only about 24 inches by
about 16 inches," says Dr. Holick.


These lamps carry the same skin-cancer risks and need for  protective eyewear, so
they're best for those with a doctor's  recommendation.


More from MSN  Health: