Are You Getting Enough of and the Right Kind of Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is often overlooked in our diets but did you know that calcium cannot absorb or be of value to you without its trusty sidekick vitamin D? Below you will find everything you need to know about calcium and vitamin D. First off when you are thinking about which supplements to buy you will want to note that Calcium is measured in IU’s which stands fore international units. The amount you need depends on your age and sex. If you are age 19-70 we recommend getting at least 600 IU’s a day. If you are pregnant or older than 70 we recommend more.
Where to Find Vitamin D?
There are many different foods that provide calcium boosts. Of course dairy is huge. Other sources include: salmon, tuna, mackerel, shrimp, egg yolks, and spinach. If you spend more than 20 minutes in constant sunlight you will be able to get much of your vitamin D dosage for the day. We recommend trying to get as much natural vitamin D and calcium as possible but if you cannot get enough from your diet you might want to try a supplement. The positive benefit from getting it from your food is that you cannot overdo it. You can take too much calcium and vitamin D supplements and it may lead to kidney stones and heart problems. We recommend getting a vitamin D blood test to check your levels because most people get plenty of calcium, but not enough vitamin D. If you have inflammatory bowel disease you are more susceptible to lower levels of vitamin D. Also, if you have darker skin or don’t get to go outdoors on a regular basis you are also more at risk. Please comment below with your questions or comments and check out our Facebook and Google+ page for more!