Vitamin D – The Sunshine Vitamin

Doctors have known for years that vitamin D is good for bones, but now researchers are finding that vitamin D, often called the sunshine vitamin because your body produces it when exposed to the sun, may help ward off a whole host of illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. A team of Harvard scientists recently discovered that among 18,000 men they've been tracking since 1993, those with the highest blood levels of vitamin D were the least likely to have heart attacks, while those with the lowest levels had the highest risk. Other studies have found that increasing vitamin D intake reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, hip fractures, and tooth loss and significantly increases muscle strength.

Fortified milk and cereals, eggs, tuna, fish-liver oils, and sun exposure (doctors are recommending 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure a few times a week) all help the body obtain vitamin D.