As a woman, especially as you get older, the health of your bones is no doubt a major concern. Vitamin D is essential for the normal development and maintenance of bones because it helps in the absorption of calcium and other minerals. Without vitamin D, your bones can become soft and you may develop osteomalacia (soft bones), osteoporosis, or joint pain. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. When you are out in the sun, the sun’s rays convert the cholesterol in your skin to vitamin D. In Canada, we don’t get enough sunshine during the fall and winter, and often we are indoors much of the time all year round, or use sunscreen when we are outdoors. You can get some vitamin D from fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel; eggs from chickens fed vitamin D; and vitamin D-fortified milk. The benefits of vitamin D are so outstanding, and the possibility of deficiency so great, that we are routinely advised to supplement with vitamin D. Not only does it support bone health, but it may also protect against many forms of cancer, boost mood and help you shake the wintertime blues, and support your immune system.