When your skin is exposed to the sun, it’s able to make vitamin D. Your body needs vitamin D to keep your bones, muscles and teeth healthy. Having the proper amount of Vitamin D is especially important for children and the elderly. However, overexposure to the sun and using a tanning bed increases your chance of developing skin cancer and is not recommended. It is important to develop and maintain good sun protective habits. There are safer ways to maintain healthy Vitamin D levels than through ultraviolet (UV) exposure.
You can get vitamin D from:
- Being exposed to very small amounts of sunshine.
- Foods rich in vitamin D or vitamin D fortified foods.
- Supplements containing vitamin D.
Examples of vitamin D-rich foods include:
- Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna
- Fortified dairy products and fortified milk alternatives
- Egg yolk
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