Vitamin D is so essential for optimal health, but many individuals are simply not getting enough and are considered deficient.The only way to know if you actually are deficient is to get a blood test. You can get too much, so make sure to get a test before you start supplementing. If you are low, it can take a lot of supplementation to get you back to a healthy level.You can get vitamin D via food, supplements and the sun.The best type of food where vitamin D is found naturally is oily fish (canned tuna, sardines, salmon, halibut).Fortified cereals, milk, and juice can also provide the nutrient.Vitamin D supplements are measured in IUs (International Units). If you have normal levels of vitamin D, you need approximately 600-800 IUs daily. However, if you're severely deficient, you may need to take thousands of IUs each day.Make sure to take your vitamin D supplements with some sort of fat.To get enough D from the sun, you need to be exposed to direct sunlight (no sunscreen) for 15-20 minutes twice per week.Listen in as Michelle Dudash, Chef & Clean Eating Expert, joins host Lisa Davis to explain the benefits of vitamin D and the best ways to get the nutrient.
