7. Vitamin D
“Vitamin D is crucial for bone health, immune function, and other bodily functions,” says Johna Burdeos, RD. Although it’s surely a vitamin that you know well, there’s also a very good chance that you’re not getting enough in your diet.
“Several groups of people are at risk for low vitamin D levels,” Burdeos says. “These groups include home-bound individuals, older adults, people who don’t get much sun exposure year round or cover up completely outdoors, people with darker skin, people living in larger-sized bodies, as well as those who’ve undergone bariatric surgery. ”
In fact, about 35% of American adults have a vitamin D deficiency, while the same can be said for around 1 billion people around the world.
“It should be noted that vitamin D is naturally occurring in only a few foods like fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines), beef liver, and egg yolks,” Burdeos adds, which explains why you may not be getting enough through your diet alone. Although she does point out that “it is fortified in some foods such as milk, yogurt, soy milk, orange juice, and cereal,” she says that “if you don’t eat any of those vitamin D-rich foods, you’re at risk of deficiency and could benefit from a supplement.”
8. Probiotics
If you’ve been thinking about trying a probiotic, Burdeos explains why you might want to take the leap, saying, “More and more evidence suggests that probiotics are linked to potential health benefits, including improved digestion, immune system support, and reduced inflammation.”
“Probiotic-rich foods include fermented products like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi, miso, and pickles,” she says. “If you feel as though your body could use more probiotics but you don’t like these kinds of foods, it’s worth discussing with your medical provider to see if probiotics would be right for you.”