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According to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen, as many as four out of 5 Americans don't get enough vitamin D, especially in the gray months of winter.

"That's bad news for your health," they write in the YOU Docs Blog. "Not just because you need D to build strong bones, but because a steady stream of recent research suggests this familiar nutrient is responsible for more good deeds than a string of superheroes put together—including the biggie that it can even help you live longer. Several studies have found that if people take more vitamin D, they have 25 percent less cancer and heart disease."

New research indicates vitamin D could cut your risk of several deadly diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer, diabetes and heart disease. 

How can you get enough D on days when you barely see the sun? You could add foods naturally rich in vitamin D, like oily fish (salmon, herring or sardines), or vitamin-D-fortified foods (like milk, cereal or orange juice). The only problem is that it's difficult to get enough daily vitamin D from these foods to really make a difference.

Instead, Dr. Oz recommends taking a supplement of at least 1,000 units of vitamin D a day—up to no more than 2,000 units. If you already take a daily multivitamin, you might be getting some vitamin D already, so you can adjust your dosage accordingly.

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