Vitamin D and.....heart disease?

We've known for years that vitamin D works with calcium to help make our bones strong and dense. That's why vitamin D is added to milk. In the last few years, research is turning up new functions for vitamin D, with the lastest being protection against heart disease.

Some experts believe that 1/3 to 1/2 of all adults in the US are deficient in Vitamin D. No wonder - many people don't drink milk, vitamin D isn't naturally present in many foods (cod liver oil, anyone?), and the process of converting sunlight hitting our skin into vitamin D slows down as we age.

Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to high blood pressure, and it also may increase inflammation that can lead to heart disease. Research is ongoing to find out optimal amounts of vitamin D supplementation, because too much can be toxic. For now, I recommend these three tactics:

1. Drink 3-4 cups of skim milk fortified with vitamin D per day.
2. Take a multivitamin supplement that contains vitamin D.
3. Ask your doctor to test your blood levels of vitamin D - and to recommend a supplement if necessary.