Everyone is on the vitamin D bandwagon including your doctor. And for good reason! Vitamin D, along with the other fat-soluble vitamins A, E and K, play very important roles in the body and should not be ignored. But at the moment, everyone seems to by hyper-focused on the protective and healing benefits of the sunshine vitamin but I’m sure the others will have their day in the spotlight very soon.
Vitamin D can be obtained from the sun for only certain times of the year and at certain times of the day. For more information about when your potential for vitamin D exposure is at its greatest, download the app called D-Minder. It will tell you, based on your latitude, longitude and altitude, when the best time would be for you to be as bare-naked in the sun as you can without involving the police or offending your neighbors! Make sure your cholesterol levels are nice and high (another contrary perspective) so you can actually convert the sun’s rays into vitamin D.
The highest dietary sources of vitamin D are found in the skin of fatty fish with the best source being fresh salmon. Most of us don’t eat the skin because it tastes a bit “greasy” but this is a great way to boost your vitamin D levels. Tuna, another fatty fish, has appreciable amounts along with some found in eggs and shiitake mushrooms.
During the winter months when the sun is too far to the south to effectively provide enough of the right kind of UVB rays, you may want to consider boosting your vitamin D a bit by using a supplement or two. Historically, cod liver oil was a staple of every home and all young children were required to open wide and swallow a spoonful whether they liked it or not. Cod liver oil not only helped boost the immune system but provided a wonderful dose of vitamins D and A. Now, we can take cod liver oil in a gel cap, avoiding that awful fishy taste!
Before you start adding too much vitamin D into your daily or weekly regimen, it would be a good idea to take a quick look at your starting point. You can ask your doctor to order a vitamin D test or, you can order it yourself online at Direct Labs. The best range for vitamin D is somewhere between 30 and 50. More is definitely not better. Once your vitamin D is within normal ranges, it doesn’t take much effort to keep it there. Just a little awareness and maybe some cod liver oil gelcaps 3-4 times per week just in case! Call or email our office for a non-rancid, high quality oil that will help maintain optimal vitamin D levels for you and your family!
