Vitamin D is an important nutrient but one that people tend to lack during the winter months. Vitamin D helps keep bones strong and works to support the body’s immune system.
The main way people get vitamin D is through sunlight — but with the shorter days and colder temperatures, spending time outdoors can be a challenge.
To make up for the lack of sunlight, certain foods can provide an extra boost of vitamin D, Laura Manaker, a South Carolina-based dietitian and nutritionist, told Fox News Digital.
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“Combining tasty, vitamin D-rich foods with outdoor time on sunny days can help ensure your body gets what it needs, even in winter,” she said.
These four foods can boost your body’s vitamin D intake.
1. Mackerel, salmon and sardines
Any sort of fatty fish like mackerel, salmon and sardines will come with a side of vitamin D, Manaker said.
Salmon, particularly wild-caught salmon, is a fish that contains high levels of vitamin D. (iStock)
A 3½-ounce serving of sockeye salmon contains an average of 670 international units (IU) of vitamin D, more than the recommended daily value for a person under age 70, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.
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The source of the fish, however, matters. A study by the National Institutes of Health found that farmed salmon has considerably less vitamin D content than wild-caught salmon.
2. Egg yolks
Eggs are another great source of vitamin D. A single egg yolk contains more than a third of a person’s recommended daily amount of the nutrient, according to the USDA.
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Adding eggs to a salad or sandwich can provide an easy vitamin D boost.
A single egg yolk contains more than a third of a person’s daily recommended amount of vitamin D. (iStock)
3. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are unique, Manaker said, as they are the “only produce-aisle item capable of producing vitamin D.”
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“When exposed to [ultraviolet] light, mushrooms can naturally synthesize vitamin D, similar to how our skin does when exposed to sunlight,” she said.
Mushrooms are the only produce-aisle item that can produce vitamin D. (iStock)
To better maximize the vitamin D levels of mushrooms, people can sun-dry them at home or look for mushrooms that are labeled “UV-exposed,” Manaker said.
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“One of my favorite ways to increase vitamin D levels is by enjoying a hearty mushroom soup or adding roasted mushrooms to salads and sandwiches during the colder months,” she said.
4. Fortified breakfast foods
Starting the day with vitamin D is easier when consuming common breakfast foods that have been fortified with extra nutrients.
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“Fortified foods such as dairy milk, fortified orange juice and certain cereals are also effective options,” Manaker said.
Milk, orange juice and cereal are all commonly fortified with vitamin D. (iStock)
Milk can be fortified with up to 84 IU of vitamin D per 100 grams, according to the Food and Drug Administration’s website.
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It’s best to check the nutrition labels of cereal and orange juice to see how much extra vitamin D can be added to a morning meal, experts say.
