Am I At Risk Of Getting Vitamin D Deficiency?

Are you spending not enough time outdoors (less than 15 to 20 minutes three times a week)?

Do you have darker skin tone?

Do you avoid eating fatty fish (salmon, herring, and sardines) and fortified dairy products?

Are you an elderly person?

Do you live far from the equator where there are few sunny days during the year?

Do you have any kidney or liver disease?

Do you have a malabsorption disorder, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease?

Have you had gastric bypass surgery?

Are you taking medications such as antifungals, anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids, and AIDS / HIV medications?

Based on your answers you have a low risk of getting vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is extremely important for proper bone growth and the functioning of the muscular, nervous and immune systems. Your body can naturally produce vitamin D after sun exposure. People with light skin tone can produce vitamin D more easily than those with darker complexion. On the other hand, excessive sun exposure can damage the skin, so many people choose to get vitamin D from other sources. Vitamin D can also be ingested through foods such as fatty fish and fortified dairy products, or in the form of supplements.

Based on your answers you have a moderate risk of getting vitamin D deficiency. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D for healthy adults is between 600 and 800 IU per day. Spending time in the sun combined with foods such as salmon, herring, sardines and canned tuna is a great way for your body to get enough of this important vitamin. However, about half of the general population does not spend enough time outdoors, and as many as 40 percent of Americans have vitamin D deficiency. Also, vitamin D deficiency can be the result of some gastrointestinal, kidney and liver disorders.

Based on your answers you have a high risk of getting vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is very common, and it is estimated that about a billion people worldwide have low levels of vitamin D. Getting enough vitamin D from food alone is very difficult. Vitamin D is the only nutrient that your body produces after sun exposure, so it is necessary to spend some time outdoors. Vitamin D is very important for bone health. People who don't like fish should know that eggs are a great source of vitamin D. Most of the vitamins, minerals and fats in eggs are found mainly in the yolk.