Vitamin D
Alternate Names : Cholecalciferol
What food source is the nutrient found in?
The most reliable source of vitamin D, in the US diet, is
fortified milk.
All milk sold in the United States is fortified with vitamin D. Vitamin D is also
present in:
cheese
butter
margarine
cream
some soy milks
eggs
liver
fish such as sardines and salmon
cod liver oil
fortified cereals
Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin. This is because
the body can make vitamin D after sunlight, or ultraviolet light, hits the
skin. Ten to 15 minutes of sun exposure 3 times a week is all the body
needs. Older people are less efficient with this conversion.
How does the nutrient affect the body?
Vitamin D helps build strong and healthy bones and teeth.
It does this by helping the body to absorb the minerals
calcium
and phosphorous and to deposit them in bones and teeth.
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