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Vitamin D: The Basics
We’ve all known about vitamins for years. When we were kids, we took our Flintstones Vitamins to get all our basic nutrients. Now we’re more health-conscious, and we’re looking for the best ways to supplement our diets.
One of the most popular supplements is Vitamin D. Why? Well, it does a lot of jobs in the body, including building strong bones through promoting good calcium absorption. Plus, many studies suggest Vitamin D can play a big role in preventing diseases like prostate cancer and heart disease — or at least lower the risk of death from these maladies. Clearly, Vitamin D is a superhero in the supplements world.
Popular Stores for Vitamin D
Vitamin D is available almost everywhere vitamins and supplements are sold. Check out these stores for Vitamin D deals:
How to Shop for Vitamin D
Before you make any decisions concerning Vitamin D (or any supplement), you will want to check with your healthcare provider — you might be on medications that interact with the supplement. Vitamin D can be purchased over the counter, but it’s also available with a prescription. Talk to your provider about the kind of Vitamin D that’s best for you, and in what dosage. You can make your decisions on shopping from there.
According to Everyday Health , some studies have found Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) to be more effective than Vitamin D2, so check the label to make sure D3 is what you’re buying. And because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not oversee over-the-counter Vitamin D supplements, choosing a brand that’s USP-verified is the best way to make sure you’re getting the dose advertised on the bottle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much Vitamin D should I take?
While that’s a decision you should make with your healthcare provider, the National Institutes of Health generally recommend that adults ages 18 to 70 take at least 600 International Units (IU) per day. That’s about 600 micrograms.
How do I know what kind of Vitamin D I’m buying?
The label tells all. It should say “Vitamin D3” or “cholecalciferol” in the ingredient list. If you’re vegan, you will want to look for a supplement that says it’s veggie-friendly on the label.
How do I know how much I’m taking?
Check the bottle. It should tell you the “serving size,” or number of capsules or pills taken at one time, and how many IUs are in that serving. So, if the ideal amount for you is 1,000 IUs, and the label indicates you should take two as a serving size, then, each capsule should contain 500 IUs.
Why should I take Vitamin D supplements? Can’t I get it from the sun? Or from what I eat?
You can, but it may not be as easy as you think. Thirty minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) can get you what you need, but there’s also the risk of skin cancer. Also, those living in northern climes may not be able to get that much sun during the winter months.
Surprisingly few foods contain natural Vitamin D. They include wild-caught mackerel, wild-caught salmon, tuna packed in water, sardines packed in oil, dairy products, and egg yolks. And for the hardcore among us, there’s always beef calf liver and cod liver oil. Unless your usual diet contains a great deal of these oily fish, or you just have a craving for cod liver oil, you’ll probably need some kind of supplement. See this page from WebMD for more information.
Can you take too much Vitamin D?
Yep, you sure can. The folks at WebMD tell us that too much of the supplement can cause “nausea, constipation , confusion, abnormal heart rhythm, and even kidney stones .” So be mindful of how much you take and when. As referenced in the above link, doctors say 4,000 IUs is the upper limit for most people.
Does my child need a Vitamin D supplement?
Again, that’s a question for your pediatrician or other healthcare provider. Kids tend to spend more time outside in the sunshine than adults, which helps the body manufacture Vitamin D. If they’re deficient, that’s something to work out with a medical professional.
I hate taking pills. What are my options for doing Vitamin D supplements?
There are also softgel capsules, which are usually easy to swallow, and aren’t much more expensive than the chalky tablets.
Another great question for your healthcare provider! Depending on your diet and other medications you may be taking, a multivitamin may be a better choice. Still, your provider might prefer you take Vitamin D by itself if you’re severely deficient in it. That may also be a case where a prescription supplement is what you need.
Should I take just Vitamin D, or can I take it in a multivitamin?
Another great question for your healthcare provider! Depending on your diet and other medications you may be taking, a multivitamin may be a better choice. Still, your provider might prefer you take Vitamin D by itself if you’re severely deficient in it. That may also be a case where a prescription supplement is what you need.
How do I find great deals on Vitamin D at DealNews?
You can shop the latest and best deals for Vitamin D on DealNews in three ways:
Amy Pollick lives in Decatur, Alabama and is based in our Huntsville office. She worked over 23 years for a daily newspaper and has been at DealNews since April 2016. She's married and has three spoiled cats. A music nut, she can be found listening to the Beatles, the Eagles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and other quality bands/tunes.