Choi Chung, RPh, BScPharm
Most people in Canada are considered vitamin D deficient given the long winters. Deficiency is associated with certain bone conditions, certain forms of cancer, heart disease, and mental health related conditions1,2,3,4.
The amount of vitamin D you should get can vary anywhere from 400 IU to 1000 IU based off of factors like your age, how much sun you get, and whether you have any conditions affecting your health2. For most people living in areas without much sunlight, supplements are available to help you reach your daily recommended intake.
If you’re not a fan of pills or supplementing, you might be able to get your vitamin D intake through certain food sources2. This includes things like fortified cow’s milk, margarine and certain cheeses. Other foods that naturally have vitamin D in them include fatty fish and eggs2.
If you have questions about what your recommended vitamin D intake should be or how to get to them, reach out to us at ask@orbishealth.ca and speak to one of our healthcare team members!
RESOURCES
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3449318/
- https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/vitamins-minerals/vitamin-calcium-updated-dietary-reference-intakes-nutrition.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908269/
- http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/low_vit_d
