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Vitamin D is an important nutrient but one that people tend to lack during the winter months. Vitamin D helps keep bones strong and works to support the body’s immune system. 

The main way people get vitamin D is through sunlight — but with the shorter days and colder temperatures, spending time outdoors can be a challenge.

To make up for the lack of sunlight, certain foods can provide an extra boost of vitamin D, Laura Manaker, a South Carolina-based dietitian and nutritionist, told Fox News Digital. 

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“Combining tasty, vitamin D-rich foods with outdoor time on sunny days can help ensure your body gets what it needs, even in winter,” she said.

These four foods can boost your body’s vitamin D intake. 

Any sort of fatty fish like mackerel, salmon and sardines will come with a side of vitamin D, Manaker said.

A 3½-ounce serving of sockeye salmon contains an average of 670 international units (IU) of vitamin D, more than the recommended daily value for a person under age 70, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.

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The source of the fish, however, matters. A study by the National Institutes of Health found that farmed salmon has considerably less vitamin D content than wild-caught salmon. 

Eggs are another great source of vitamin D. A single egg yolk contains more than a third of a person’s recommended daily amount of the nutrient, according to the USDA. 

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Adding eggs to a salad or sandwich can provide an easy vitamin D boost. 

Mushrooms are unique, Manaker said, as they are the “only produce-aisle item capable of producing vitamin D.” 

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“When exposed to [ultraviolet] light, mushrooms can naturally synthesize vitamin D, similar to how our skin does when exposed to sunlight,” she said. 

To better maximize the vitamin D levels of mushrooms, people can sun-dry them at home or look for mushrooms that are labeled “UV-exposed,” Manaker said. 

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“One of my favorite ways to increase vitamin D levels is by enjoying a hearty mushroom soup or adding roasted mushrooms to salads and sandwiches during the colder months,” she said. 

Starting the day with vitamin D is easier when consuming common breakfast foods that have been fortified with extra nutrients. 

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“Fortified foods such as dairy milk, fortified orange juice and certain cereals are also effective options,” Manaker said. 

Milk can be fortified with up to 84 IU of vitamin D per 100 grams, according to the Food and Drug Administration’s website. 

It’s best to check the nutrition labels of cereal and orange juice to see how much extra vitamin D can be added to a morning meal, experts say.