Go Outside and Play

But it turns out that mom’s advice was correct for a good number of reasons. For example, a recent study showed that low vitamin D can increase your risk of death by 26 percent (Read the whole story here.).

Don’t feel bad, because it is not just you. A nationwide survey found that 41 percent of men and 53 percent of women in the US were not getting outside enough to get enough vitamin D from the sun.

Dr. Michal Melamed, the lead author of the study, said “There are studies that link low vitamin D levels to the development of heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, hypertension and different cancers.“

But don’t go popping pills to get your vitamin D fix. According to the U.S. Institute of Medicine, the best way to get vitamin D, naturally, is by being out in the sun. All you need is 10 to 15 minutes of sun per day to get all a vitamin D you need. Vitamin D is also available in small quantities in foods such as fish and milk.