Vitamin D

According to an article from the February 2012 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, a new review of 75 studies found that not getting enough of the sunshine vitamin raises your chances of a heart attack and ups many cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, general inflammation, and metabolic syndrome (a triple whammy of hypertension, high triglycerides, and extra weight around your middle). You can get D from sun exposure, but depending on your skin tone and how far north you live, that can be tough in winter months (plus, too much sun ups your risk of skin cancer, and wrinkles).

Getting vitamin D from food is also a challenge - fortified milk, fatty fish, and eggs are recommended sources.  Most of us will have to rely on supplement to meet the goal of 600 IU a day set by the Institute of Medicine, or the higher amount - 1,000 IU - that many other experts advise.