Silent Epidemic: Vitamin D Deficiency

With spring right around the corner, there is no better time to shine the spotlight on the sunshine vitamin and the important role it plays in our health. Although we may have more opportunities to catch some rays in the coming months, we can’t rely on the sun to supply all of the vitamin D our bodies need.

Even though we have the ability to make our own vitamin D when the ultraviolet rays of the sun hit our skin, many Americans fail to get enough vitamin D. In fact, vitamin D deficiency in this country is being called a silent epidemic. The prudent use of sunscreen, sun-blocking pollution and long, cold winters indoors are partially to blame.

By springing forward in March you’ll gain an extra hour of sunlight and more opportunities to catch some rays, but you can’t always count on the sun to supply all of the vitamin D you need. That’s why it’s even more important to look to your diet for your D, according to registered dietitian and Food Network host Ellie Krieger, who is sporting a white upper lip to extol the virtues of this vital vitamin and talk about milk as “liquid sunshine.”

“It’s alarming to see so many people fail to get enough vitamin D, especially when milk is such an easy and convenient source of this essential nutrient,” Krieger said. “Now more than ever we’re learning about the health risks linked to vitamin D deficiency.”

Milk is one of the few food sources of vitamin D. In fact, it’s the leading source of vitamin D in the American diet. The recommended three 8-ounce glasses of lowfat or fat free milk provide 75 percent of the daily value for vitamin D. Milk also provides eight other essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium and vitamin A, which many Americans also lack.

Krieger is the first registered dietitian to don the famous milk mustache – joining the ranks of more than 250 actors, athletes, models and musicians who have appeared in the popular National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign. Her ad on vitamin D debuted Monday, March 9, 2009 which was also named Vitamin D Day. Krieger’s ad copy reads: “When it comes to wellness, little things really make a difference. Like drinking three glasses of lowfat or fat free milk a day. It’s loaded with Vitamin D, the sunny super nutrient whose preventive health benefits have everyone buzzing. Just think of it as liquid sunshine.”

Vitamin D Has Been Dubbed a “Super Nutrient”

Vitamin D was once known as simply a bone builder. It’s true that vitamin D works with calcium to keep bones strong, but new and emerging research suggests vitamin D may be far more versatile, offering an array of health benefits. Some preliminary research suggests vitamin D may support a healthy immune system, heart health, normal blood pressure and healthy aging. And, ongoing research continues to explore the potential connection between vitamin D and certain diseases, including some cancers.