- Discover the role of vitamin D in bone health and immune function.
- Learn of food groups containing vitamin D.
- Uncover the best vitamin D supplements for a healthy diet.
The Role of Vitamin D in Bone Health and Immune Function
Got Milk did a number on all of us. Their ads were everywhere: TV commercials, magazine ads, billboards, and even the radio. From superstar celebrities to the all-too-white mustaches, milk was a booming industry in the ’90s and early 00s. Just think about it: oatmeal with milk in the morning, choccy milk with your school lunch, and then, to top it all off, a fat glass of 2% milk at dinner. Milk was everywhere!
But what if Big Milk was onto something?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient whose benefits go far beyond bone health. With an abundance of benefits, vitamin D underpins strong bones and a healthy immune system that can fight off and prevent a multitude of illnesses. With an unwavering commitment to our customers’ health, Rock’s Discount Vitamins is here to ensure you get all the Vitamin D you need.
Excellent Sources for Vitamin D
The following foods are a great source of vitamin D:
Protein Sources for Vitamin D
The best proteins containing vitamin D typically include fatty and oily fish. Below are some options to help you meet your vitamin D intake:
- Canned tuna
- Canned sardines
- Flounder
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Rainbow trout
- Salmon
- Tilapia
- Trout
Dairy for Vitamin D
The most popular food group containing vitamin D are dairy products. From yogurt to milk, below are a list of healthy and nutritious dairy options to support your daily vitamin D intake:
- Cheese
- Kefir
- Milk (fat-free and 1%)
- Soy milk
- Yogurt (plain, low-fat, and non-fat)
Veggies with Vitamin D
Although the veggie options containing vitamin D are limited, below are some of the veggies containing the highest levels of vitamin D:
- Mushrooms (shiitake, maitake, and morel)
- Spinach
Fruits Containing Vitamin D
While undoubtedly not many fruits contain vitamin D, both oranges and orange juice contain trace amounts of vitamin D:
- Oranges (including orange juice)
Exposure to Sunlight
A great way to reap the benefits of vitamin D and stay active is to get outside! Exposure to sunlight is the best way to let your body naturally produce vitamin D. When you’re outside, your body absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and turns them into vitamin D. While exposure to sunlight is a sure way to meet a healthy intake of vitamin D, it is important to practice sun safety and utilize some form of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. This helps prevent burns and more serious diseases like skin cancer.
The Benefits of Vitamin D
From providing immune support to helping keep your bones strong and healthy, vitamin D is a key player in helping us operate at full speed. Science keeps uncovering new benefits for vitamin D, so make sure you don’t miss out on what it has to offer.
Vitamin D for Bone Health
By now you’re probably all too familiar with the age-old saying: vitamin D is necessary for strong and healthy bones! But what exactly does vitamin D do for our bone health? Vitamin D is vital to keeping strong and healthy bones as it allows our bodies to properly absorb calcium, the main mineral that makes up our bones. Without a sufficient intake of vitamin D, children can develop rickets (soft, weak, and deformed bones). Similarly, vitamin D deficiency in older adults (65+) can lead to osteomalacia and osteoporosis.
Vitamin D for Immune Support
Current research, conducted by distinguished professor of molecular immunology, Margherita T Cantorna, Ph.D., informs us that the benefits of vitamin D are far-reaching, going above and beyond just supporting strong bone health.
Dr. Cantorna suggests we think of vitamin D as a fine-tuner, which doesn’t outright tune a guitar, but can rather help the user find the correct pitch. Similarly, she finds that vitamin D, with its many immune-boosting properties, can help support our immune systems by fighting infections rather than outright curing them.
Other health benefits that can be attributed to a healthy intake of vitamin D include:
- Weight Loss: When taken with calcium, vitamin D supplements have been found to keep you from feeling hungry, helping reduce caloric intake.
- Cognitive Function: Vitamin D has been shown to maintain cognitive function as well as slow down cognitive decline.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): It has been found that vitamin D can lower your chances of MS, and if you already have it, vitamin D can ease and relieve some of the symptoms.
Best Vitamin D Supplements
A recent study conducted by Oregon State University shows that 95% of adults in the United States are deficient in vitamin D. Getting your full daily supply of vitamin D is difficult to do, but a sure way to ensure you’re not vitamin D deficient is through a healthy and balanced diet, with additional dietary supplements. Some of the best supplements to help you enjoy the benefits of vitamin D include:
Get Ready to Up Your Health Game
You don’t need trends or fads—you need the real deal. You’ve got our unyielding commitment to providing you with the best, so for your wellness goals, choose quality, choose Rock’s Discount Vitamins.
