Before calcium can do its job, it has to be absorbed by your body - and that's where Vitamin D comes in. Vitamin D regulates calcium absorption in the body, maintains calcium and phosphate levels, and promotes bone growth.
Your body produces vitamin D when your bare skin is exposed to sunshine — specifically ultraviolet B rays — making vitamin D known as “The Sunshine Vitamin”. You can also get vitamin D from your diet and supplements like Viactiv Calcium + Bone Strengthening, which delivers 12.5 mcg (500 IUs) of vitamin D in every tasty chew.
And Yet, You May be Deficient in Vitamin D
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Spending more time indoors, out of direct sunlight
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Wearing sunscreen, which blocks UVB rays
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Being 50 or older
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Having dark skin
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Living in higher altitude areas
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Being overweight or obese
Here's How to Get More Vitamin D
The best way to know you’re getting enough vitamin D is to ask your health care professional for a blood test that checks your vitamin D levels. In the meantime, there are 3 things you can do to get more vitamin D, starting now:
1. Get More Sun
Depending on your skin type, getting as little as 10 to 15 minutes a day of sun exposure on your bare skin, without sunscreen can stimulate vitamin D production. After that, put on your sunscreen.
2. Eat Foods with Vitamin D
To help make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D in your diet, here are some of the foods that rank high in this all-important vitamin:
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Fatty fish (like salmon)
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Tuna fish (canned)
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Cod liver oil
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Sardines
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Eggs
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Swiss cheese
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Orange juice
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Milk (Vitamin D-fortified)
- Ready-to-eat cereal (Vitamin D-fortified).
3. Take A Supplement
In addition to sun and diet, a supplement with vitamin D can help you get what you need. While vitamin D is available in two forms — D2 and D3 — Viactiv Calcium + Bone Strengthening contains 12.5 mcg (500 IUs) of vitamin D3. Both raise vitamin D levels in the blood, but some research indicates vitamin D3 may be more effective in raising and maintaining vitamin D levels in the long term.
