Vitamin D
Vitamin D is such an essential vitamin that it deserves its own page. Our bodies need vitamin D to soak up and keep healthy calcium levels, manage cell growth, and promote neuromuscular function. It also reduces pain and inflammation. Unfortunately, more than half of the US population suffers from vitamin D deficiency.
A severe deficiency in vitamin D can lead to osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults, and rickets in children. Our bodies get this vital nutrient from soaking up ultraviolet rays from the sun, which triggers the fusion of vitamin D to our bodies. This becomes tricky if you live in areas where you barely see the sun for long periods, it can be hard to get enough vitamin D.
In addition to sun exposure, we can get vitamin D through our diet. Some foods have vitamin D added to them during processing. But, some seafood like salmon, trout, and tuna offer natural levels of vitamin D that may be higher than fortified foods, like cereal. So make sure you stock up during the winter months!
2 Responses
I found this article to be very informative. While living in the Virgin Islands I did eat a lot of fresh fish but when I had to return stateside due to PTSD and other medical problems, I developed more depression. Then I lost my Mom and fell in to even deeper depression. Knowing that Omega-3’s and vitamin D can be essential to my health, is wonderful. I also have osteoarthritis and did not know that fish oil may help with the inflammation! Yes, I am a mess! Thank you for this article.
I have loved seafood for as long as I can remember. seafood was considered poor mans food. Songs were written about it In Ireland it was about the fishmonger Molly Malone. selling her live shellfish with the cry alive, alive, O and how one can hear her ghost still crying out selling her wares on the streets of Dublin. It was in Ireland I had the best fish chowder I ever had. being an island, fish are plentiful. the one thing that kept many from starving in the potato famine. at one time fish was the cheapest thing you could buy to feed your family. Many times I caught perch in the Detroit River for dinner.. These were times when we never knew who would be sitting at our table for dinner. People today don’t know Hungar. even the poorest can get food when needed. The problem is that fish are almost never fresh anymore. learn to recognize the signs that they have been frozen many times. so many people have never tasted fresh fish. the main problem is that it must be transported. the suppliers must find ways to keep their fish from damage. prepackaging doesn’t allow you to inspect it before you buy it. the result is that it gets tossed away and wasted. find good sources you can trust to have fresh fish. its worth the extra you will pay. better for you as well.———- I, Grampa