Vitamin D

As I have mentioned previously, I am not a big fan of supplementation and I try to get the nutrients I need from the food I eat. One vitamin that I have been reading a lot about lately, however, is vitamin D. Studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to a host of physical problems, and although the research isn't conclusive, it does seem likely that vitamin D plays a role in improving immune functioning and in strengthening bone and muscle in the body. Unfortunately, unless you live in a really sunny climate, eat a lot of fatty fish, or consume a lot of vitamin fortified foods like cereal, it is hard to get enough vitamin D without supplementation. Since I always wear sunblock, only occasionally eat fatty fish, and rarely eat fortified cereal, I've decided to make Goal# 37 to take a daily vitamin D supplement. Since vitamin D is fat-soluble, it is important not to take too much. Unlike high doses of vitamins like B&C, which you will pee out if you take too much, vitamin D gets stored in your body and can cause problems if taken at really high doses (the current upper limit recommended by the Institute of Medicine is 4,000 IU a day for adults but toxicity is generally observed at much higher doses). Still, I'm going to play it safe and stick with 2,000 IU/day.