Vitamin D.... Why It's Important & How To Get More Of It!

Spring is on it’s way and I’m crossing my fingers that we are going to have some glimmer of sunshine! The easiest way to get Vitamin D is by exposing your body directly in sunlight. You can also get it through certain foods and supplements to ensure adequate levels of the vitamin in your blood.

So why is vitamin D important?

Vitamin D has many important functions. Perhaps the most vital are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and facilitating normal immune system function. Getting a sufficient amount of vitamin D is important for normal growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as improved resistance against certain diseases. If your body doesn’t get enough vitamin D, you’re at risk of developing bone abnormalities such as soft bones (osteomalacia) or fragile bones (osteoporosis).

What can we eat to improve Vitamin D intake?

Vitamin D rich foods include:

• Seafood. Seafood is one of the best sources. If you eat fish, aim to have two or three portions per week. Choose trout, halibut, sardines, herring, salmon and mackerel.

• Whole milk – Organic full-fat milk contains much more than semi-skimmed milk and is less likely to have had anything added or removed. Unfortunately, the most popular form of milk is semi-skimmed, which contains significantly lower amounts of fat-soluble vitamins.

• Eggs – Eggs are one of my favorite superfoods For years we were told to only to eat egg whites. How wrong that advice was. Yolks are the original superfood, Don’t be shy with yolks!