As a child, your parents probably always told (or scolded) you to drink your milk to build strong bones! Well, even as you become older this timeless advice still holds true. As you age, your risk for getting osteoporosis severely increases. If you are over 50 your bones are not as strong as they once were. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), each year, more than two million broken bones occur in the United States due to this disease. It is estimated that by 2020 more than 61 million Americans will suffer from osteoporosis or low bone mass. Drinking milk and eating calcium rich foods can easily allow you to get the calcium you need. However, getting enough vitamin D is not as easy as a simple diet. In order to get the right amount of vitamin D you need supplementation. Without supplementation you would have to overeat or get too much sun, both of which are not good alternatives for your health especially over the age of 50.

Due to the increasing risk of low bone density in people over 50, NOF recommends that women and men over the age of 50 should take 800-1,000 IU daily. Not only does an adequate amount of vitamin D help regulate calcium and phosphorus absorption, but it helps maintain healthy bones and teeth, and is suggested to supply a protective effect against cancer, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis… just in case you needed another reason to go out and buy some supplements. Stay healthy and take some vitamin D, my friends!