Eight fantastic foods to boost your body's Vitamin D (plus recipes!)
Vitamin D is a critical fat-soluble vitamin thats needed for our body to maintain serum calcium.
(Online) - A nutritionist shares her favorite ways to get your daily dose of the sunshine vitamin — without the sun!
Vitamin D is a critical fat-soluble vitamin that’s needed for our body to maintain serum calcium, which supports cellular processes, neuromuscular function, and bone ossification.
This vitamin also plays a major role in immune response and is critical in the prevention of osteoporosis, cancer, depression, diabetes, and obesity.
One of the easiest ways to get our daily dose of this vitamin is to go outside! Sunlight allows the body to synthesize vitamin D naturally. All you need is 5 to 15 minutes, 2-3 times a week without sunscreen or too much clothing to boost your levels. Get your sun in the morning or late afternoon while it’s not too strong to help avoid skin damage. If sun exposure exceeds 10 to 15 minutes, always remember to use sunscreen.
1. Salmon
Salmon is a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D. Choose wild and eat it raw, baked, pan seared, or choose canned wild salmon for an easy, less expensive option.
2. Rainbow trout
Three ounces of cooked rainbow trout provides over 100 percent of your daily requirement for vitamin D. It packs in a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and protein. All rainbow trout in the United States is farm raised which helps it have lower mercury content than other popular fish. If you’re looking for a wild fish option, try cod.
3. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a delicious source of vitamin D that offer several B vitamins and potassium, too. Vitamin D levels vary with each mushroom type, such as shiitake, portobello, morel, and chanterelle. You can also buy mushrooms that have been exposed to ultraviolet light giving them even higher vitamin D levels. I like to get creative with these guys, adding them into salads, omelets, and pasta dishes.
4. Egg yolk
Another reason we should always eat the whole egg! Vitamin D is found in the yolk of the egg only. Eggs also contain all your essential amino acids and are a great source of choline and healthy fats. Always choose free-range or pastured eggs, as they contain 4 to 6 times more vitamin D.
5. Canned tuna
Canned tuna is an easy way to get in vitamin D. Its longer shelf life makes it a great pantry staple to throw into meals as a fabulous source of protein, too. Always make sure it’s from sustainable sources and choose light tuna with the lowest amount of mercury possible. Safecatch and Wild Planet are great options.
6. Sardines
Sardines are one of the most nutrient-dense seafoods, providing lots of protein, many essential vitamins and minerals, and anti-inflammatory omega-3s. Since sardines eat plankton, they don’t carry heavy metals and toxins like many other fish do, thus they’re one of the cleanest seafood sources. Sardines can be bought fresh or in a can and are another easy addition to the pantry for both protein and vitamin D.
7. Swiss cheese
Swiss cheese is another way to pick up your vitamin D, along with calciumand vitamin K, which work together to keep your bones strong. Swiss cheese is easy to shred and sprinkle over a salad, throw into veggies, or bake onto bread. Try to buy organic, raw cheeses when possible.
8. Cod liver oil
Cod liver oil is one of the top sources of vitamin D and also happens to be a rich source of vitamin A and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. If the taste is hard for you to tolerate, take it in capsule form.
