Most active adults associate vitamin D with bone health. Like other micronutrients, the sunshine vitamin plays important roles in numerous other functions. A study published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine highlights vitamin D’s importance to cognitive acuity.

Since many elderly adults are vitamin D deficient, researchers fed middle-aged lab rats a diet with low levels of vitamin D for several months. Not only did the brains of these rats suffer from free radial damage, but learning and memory tests showed impaired mental performance.

True Strength Moment: During the winter months, it can be difficult to get enough vitamin D through exposure to sunshine. This is especially true for those living in the northern latitudes. Unfortunately, aside from the flesh of cold water fish, it’s difficult to get enough vitamin D through natural food sources. Taking a high potency multivitamin can help you cover nutritional gaps.