There is a lot of information floating around about Vitamin D, it can get very confusing!
As of November 2010, the recommended daily dose of Vitamin D for adults is a minimum of 600 IU and a maximum of 4,000 IU.
The three vitamin D “super foods” are:
• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Mushrooms exposed to ultraviolet light to increase vitamin D
4 ounces of Wild Salmon contains 511 IU so it can be difficult get adequate amounts of Vitamin D from food alone. I prefer a supplement like Emergen-C which contains 1000 IU of Vitamin D and 500 MG of Vitamin C along with Calcium and other goodies.
Other food sources of vitamin D include:
• Cod liver oil
• Tuna canned in water
• Sardines canned in oil
• Milk or yogurt fortified with vitamin D
• Beef or calf liver
• Egg yolks
• Cheese
Exposing your skin to UVB rays is an easy way to absorb Vitamin D as long as you are careful. For most people 10 minutes of direct sunlight per day is enough. This is not an excuse to skip the sunscreen on your face!
Tanning beds offer only UVA rays, not UVB rays so they will not affect your Vitamin D levels.
Fun fact:
Redheads burn more easily when exposed to UV rays, but their paleness can serve as an advantage. Their lower melanin-concentration actually allows them to produce their own Vitamin D within their
body when exposed to low light conditions.