More vitamin D benefits

According to Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, seniors need more vitamin D to "maintain muscles, crucial to bone health, may also boost the muscle strength necessary for seniors to perform daily tasks." New research presented at this week's Experimental Biology conference reports that elderly people with higher blood levels of the sunshine vitamin are more likely to have better physical function. The study tested vitamin D levels and physical function - walking, rising from a chair, balancing - in 2,788 people, average age 75, over four years. Among those with the poorest physical function, 90% had low levels of vitamin D.

How do you get more D? Get out in the sun for 15 minutes a day with arms and legs exposed, take a daily supplement (natural anti-inflammatory Flex Essentials has 1000 iu), eat foods high in D such as: salmon, sardines, soy milk, orange juice with vitamin D, breakfast cereal with vitamin D, spinach, mushrooms, legumes and nuts.