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Vitamin D (Calciferol)

  1. We all agree that carrots contain a large amount of vitamin A, but are they also a good source of vitamin D? Answer

I have a general question for you. There is a dispute right now in my house about carrots having vitamin D. We all agree that they contain a large amount of vitamin A, but are they also a good source of vitamin D? Thank you.

Carrots are not a good source of vitamin D which is a fat soluble vitamin. Carrots don't contain fat, but they are a good source of vitamin A, specifically carotenes which give carrots their orange color.

The best source of vitamin D is fortified dairy products or sunlight. The negative to sunlight is skin cancer so fortified diary products are a much better source. The other problem with getting enough vitamin D from sunlight depends on where you live. In the continental U.S. (not including Alaska) and during summer months (June, July, August), 20 minutes of direct sunlight is generally thought to give a person enough vitamin D from the cholesterol deposits under your skin. In the continental U.S. during winter months, you can rely on sunshine to provide you with enough vitamin D in the following states or south of these cities:
  • Alabama, all
  • Arizona, all
  • Arkansas, Fayetteville
  • California, Bakersfield or San Louis Obispo
  • Florida, all
  • Georgia, all
  • Hawaii, all
  • Louisiana, all
  • Mississippi, all
  • New Mexico, Albuquerque, Farmington, Los Alamos, Sante Fe
  • North Carolina, Jacksonville, Wilmington
  • Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Tulsa
  • South Carolina, all
  • Tennessee, Murfreesboro
  • Texas, all

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