"It's hard to get enough vitamin D from food," advises Campbell. “Many men who work inside all day do not get enough exposure to the sun, which is needed for the body to manufacture vitamin D. Most men can benefit from taking 1,000 IU [international units] of vitamin D daily.”
What you need to know about vitamin D:
Vitamin D becomes even more important with age, because it's needed to absorb calcium and helps prevent weak muscles and bones.
Recent research also suggests that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk for colon cancer, and one study found that men with low levels of vitamin D were twice as likely to have a heart attack as men with normal levels.
On the other hand, too much vitamin D can cause fatigue and muscle weakness, so you should stay below 2,000 IU unless your doctor advises otherwise.
"Good nutrition sources for vitamin D include salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, milk, cheese, egg yolk, orange juice, yogurt, and fortified breakfast cereal," says Kari L. Kooi, MS, RD, a clinical dietitian specialist at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, Tex.
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