USANA Essential Tips

Vitamin D is most often associated with sunshine. Back at school we were taught the importance of basking healthy infants under the sunlight during hours of safe exposure which usually comes around early morning. The reason for which is for their skin to generate enough vitamin D. From this we know that vitamin doesn’t come directly from the sunlight. Rather, our skin needs the sunlight in order to generate the vitamin D our body needs.

Why do we need vitamin D? Vitamin D is vital for regulating the body’s use of Calcium. It is also essential in prevention of osteoporosis, prostate and breast cancer, cognitive impairment in older adults and even depression.

Although the sunlight is the most effective and convenient vitamin D generator of our body, some instances will require us to drink supplements in order to maintain a healthy vitamin D level. These would include: people living far from the equator. Those situated in countries farther from the equator and with longer winter time need more time to stay under the sun in order to generate adequate amounts of vitamin D. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of time to bask under the sun because of work and many other reasons.

Good thing there are still other options for you so that you may have the therapeutic amount of vitamin D your body needs. Some foods that are rich in vitamin D are: cod liver oil, shrimp, Chinook salmon, tuna fish in canned water, fortified yogurt and others that are vitamin D fortified. Other foods that may also contain vitamin D are margarine, sardines, eggs, Swiss cheese and cereals.