There are no visible symptoms of vitamin D deficiency; however
, the lack of vitamin D can have a detrimental on your health. It has been estimated that about 70% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. While vitamin D can be found in small amounts in a number of food products such as fatty fishes and fortified in products such as dairy and juices; the primary source (80-90% of what the body gets) of this extremely beneficial vitamin is sunlight. Humans require about 20 minutes of sun exposure a day to receive the daily recommended amount 200 IU but some health care providers are suggesting you can take up to 2,000 IU a day without any adverse affects. If you live in colder climates, work inside all day, wear a high SPF cream/sun block or depending on the season (winter months) this may be difficult to achieve. Vitamin D supplements may be the easiest way to ensure you are receiving all the health benefits from this essential vitamin all year round. If you are a vegetarian, vitamin D2 may be a better solution for your vitamin D deficiency as many vitamin D3 supplements are derived from animal wool or feathers.