The correlation between calcium and good bone health is one that most people are well aware of. We were all told as children to “drink your milk” because it was good for our bones. However, what is not so well known is the role of Vitamin D in getting calcium into the bones.
Vitamin D is necessary for the intestine to absorb calcium. When Vitamin D levels are low, only 10-15% of our dietary calcium gets absorbed.
Our best resource of Vitamin D is the sun. In the Northeast, we do not have sufficient sunshine to adequately supply the UV rays required by the body to make Vitamin D. This leads to higher numbers of people with Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in the Northeast when comparedto those who live in the South.
Vitamin D can be found in some foods such as beef liver, egg yolks, fish, and fortified milk but not in high enough amounts to meet there commended daily allowance. Therefore, if you live in the Northeast, supplementation of Vitamin D most of the year is required to keep Vitamin D at levels required to get calcium adequately absorbed by the intestine and keep your bones healthy.
Come back next month to find out ways to get the Vitamin D you need to ensure good bone health!
