Here's an extra reason to get your daily dose of vitamin D: it may help keep your colon healthy.

High-fiber diets have long been touted as a path to better colon health, and now new research suggests that getting adequate intakes of vitamin D also may have a protective effect. In a study, participants with higher intakes of vitamin D appeared to have less risk of developing serious colon polyps -- intestinal growths that could turn cancerous.

Vitamin D is important for bone health because it helps the body to utilize calcium, a bone-building mineral. Many people do not get enough vitamin D during times of the year when daylight hours are scarce. This makes it especially important to find a multivitamin or a calcium supplement that can provide you with an adequate daily amount of vitamin D -- approximately 400 IU per day.