"My Doctor Says I'm Low on Vitamin D"

Add that to the list of Top 10 Things People Say When They Find Out I'm A Dietitian. It is usually followed by some version of "So, what foods have vitamin D in them?" or "So, how do I get more vitamin D?"

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium. Calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus work together to build and remodel bones. So, vitamin D is important for the health of your bones and teeth.

Vitamin D is unique in that our bodies can make it following exposure to the sun. The catch is that while the amount of sun exposure we need may be as little as 5-30 minutes on arms and legs twice a week, experts are still trying to figure out how much sun is enough, especially since the efficiency of sun exposure is affected by time of day, season of year, geography, sunscreen and even skin color.

Add that to the list of Top 10 Things People Say When They Find Out I'm A Dietitian. It is usually followed by some version of "So, what foods have vitamin D in them?" or "So, how do I get more vitamin D?"

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium. Calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus work together to build and remodel bones. So, vitamin D is important for the health of your bones and teeth.

Vitamin D is unique in that our bodies can make it following exposure to the sun. The catch is that while the amount of sun exposure we need may be as little as 5-30 minutes on arms and legs twice a week, experts are still trying to figure out how much sun is enough, especially since the efficiency of sun exposure is affected by time of day, season of year, geography, sunscreen and even skin color.

Did You Know?: Certain greens can be a good source of calcium

You know that you need your calcium but you're concerned that you may not be getting enough. Maybe you are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy. Perhaps you are following a vegan diet or simply don't like, or don't often consume, dairy. Did you know that there are some good non-dairy food sources of calcium? Certain greens, such as bok choy (sometimes called Chinese cabbage), broccoli, collard greens and kale are good sources of calcium that are relatively easy to absorb.

Don't forget that you can also get your calcium from calcium-fortified foods and beverages, like calcium-fortified orange juice. Fortified foods & beverages are also a good source of Vitamin D, which is not naturally found in most foods but is needed for calcium absorption.

You know that you need your calcium but you're concerned that you may not be getting enough. Maybe you are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy. Perhaps you are following a vegan diet or simply don't like, or don't often consume, dairy. Did you know that there are some good non-dairy food sources of calcium? Certain greens, such as bok choy (sometimes called Chinese cabbage), broccoli, collard greens and kale are good sources of calcium that are relatively easy to absorb.

Don't forget that you can also get your calcium from calcium-fortified foods and beverages, like calcium-fortified orange juice. Fortified foods & beverages are also a good source of Vitamin D, which is not naturally found in most foods but is needed for calcium absorption.