Vitamin D

Vitamin D is created in the skin upon exposure to sunlight. However, a large portion of our population may be vitamin D deficient, or may be receiving insufficient amounts of vitamin D.

Deficient, or less than recommended, blood levels of vitamin D are linked to osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, auto immune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

It's no mystery that many Americans of all ages have vitamin D blood levels that fall below those recommended for optimal health.

So how can we increase our levels of vitamin D?

Get more exposure to sunlight would seem to be the logical choice. However, when you live in the northern states, sunlight is not always the easiest means of achieving this all important vitamin. With that being said, the next best source of vitamin D wold seem to be diet.

What types of foods are high in vitamin D?

There are only a few naturally occurring food sources of vitamin D, most of which are high in fat. These include fatty fish and eggs. Some foods are fortified with vitamin D. These include cow's milk, some soy milk and rice milk, some breakfast cereals and some breakfast bars.

Sockeye salmon are an exceptionally rich source of vitamin D: a 4-ounce serving of baked or broiled sockeye salmon provides 739.37 IU of vitamin D. The same 4-ounce serving of Chinook salmon, another excellent source of vitamin D, supplies 411 IU.

Why are sockeye salmon even more richly endowed with vitamin D than other salmon species? Because zoo plankton constitute so much of their diet, and zoo plankton-along with phytoplankton-are the key sources of vitamin D in the marine food chain. [1]

Vitamin D can also be obtained from multivitamins (most contain 400 IU), in combination with some calcium supplements, or alone as a separate vitamin D supplement.

Healthy children and adults can usually get enough vitamin D from sunlight, food and/or multivitamins. Adults, who carefully protect their skin with sunscreen and/or wear protective clothing, do not consume milk or other vitamin D rich foods and do not take a multivitamin should speak to their healthcare provider about how to get enough vitamin D.

Homebound individuals with little sun exposure should discuss their risk of vitamin D deficiency with their healthcare provider and try to get enough vitamin D from diet and/or supplements. Senior adults over age 70 have the greatest need for vitamin D and are less able to make vitamin D from sunlight.

Seniors need to be sure to consume enough vitamin D. It is difficult for many seniors to get enough vitamin D from foods and therefore a supplement may be needed. There is some evidence that adequate calcium and vitamin D intake in seniors may even reduce the risk for fracture.

If you live in the north and do not get enough exposure to the sun, make sure you find other means of getting vitamin D. Some health professionals even claim that the "federal food and health agencies should begin a vitamin D awareness campaign aimed at the general public, especially among populations at highest risk for vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency."

Looking for a vitamin D supplement? Try TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D. To learn more about this all important vitamin, go to http://trivitaproduct.info and click on the Vitamin D link.

Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
Internet Marketing Advisors

References:
[1] http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=110