Foods Rich in Vitamin D - Is Cod Liver Oil the Solution?
Foods rich in vitamin D include fish and fish liver oils...
and small amounts are also found in beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks.
These foods have the benefit of providing vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) which is known to be more effective than the vitamin D2 found in some fortified foods.
The US National Institute of Health lists the nutrient values of foods high in vitamin D as follows:
Michael Holick (author of the UV Advantage); or the 5,000 IUs recommended by the Vitamin D Council, solely from foods rich in vitamin D.
IS COD LIVER OIL THE SOLUTION? Cod liver oil certainly appears to be the most promising of the foods rich in vitamin D but there are several factors to consider before choosing this as your vitamin D program:
These include:
Taking cod liver oil (or increasing vitamin D through supplements) could actually worsen an underlying magnesium deficiency...
which is already common throughout North America.
Brands of Cod Liver Oil Most brands of cod liver oil go through a process that removes all of the natural vitamins including vitamin D...
although some manufacturers add vitamins to the final product.
Cod liver oil that is unheated, fermented and produced with a filtering process that retains the natural vitamins is widely recommended.
But most popular brands provide only 400 IUs of vitamin D per teaspoon (the equivalent of 1,200 IUs per tablespoon) which is well below recommended levels.
During the winter months in northern regions (north of Boston, Rome and Beijing) several tablespoons would be required each day to maintain adequate blood levels-and additional magnesium would be required to facilitate absorption.
Many brands of cod liver oil have the benefit of providing EPA and DHA acids (which are valuable for the brain and nervous system) but few provide the higher dosage recommended by a growing number of vitamin D experts.
Although manufacturers argue that their oils provide more absorbable nutrients because of the high vitamin A content...
this is widely disputed as vitamin A deficiency is rare in developed countries.
Indeed, too much vitamin A may prove toxic and is particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
A good bone building supplement is an excellent complement to a diet of foods rich in vitamin D.
A higher quality supplement will not only provide additional vitamin D3 but also the magnesium and vitamin K needed to facilitate absorption.
Although cod liver oil is one of the foods rich in vitamin D...
it may not provide as much absorbable vitamin D as expected while providing a false reassurance that intake is adequate.
For more information on bone building supplements that provide vitamin D as well as the necessary magnesium and vitamin K needed for absorption...
visit http://osteoporosis-vitamins.
com/osteoporosis-treatment-guidelines.
html
and small amounts are also found in beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks.
These foods have the benefit of providing vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) which is known to be more effective than the vitamin D2 found in some fortified foods.
The US National Institute of Health lists the nutrient values of foods high in vitamin D as follows:
- Cod liver oil (1 tablespoon): 1,340 IUs
- Sockeye salmon (3 oz.
cooked): 794 IUs - Mackerel (3 oz.
cooked): 388 IUs - Tuna fish (3 oz.
canned in water & drained): 154 IUs - Milk (1 cup fortified): 115-124 IUs
- Orange Juice (1 cup fortified): 100 IUs
Michael Holick (author of the UV Advantage); or the 5,000 IUs recommended by the Vitamin D Council, solely from foods rich in vitamin D.
IS COD LIVER OIL THE SOLUTION? Cod liver oil certainly appears to be the most promising of the foods rich in vitamin D but there are several factors to consider before choosing this as your vitamin D program:
- Vitamin D is not absorbed well without complementary vitamins
- Cod liver oils vary significantly in the amount of vitamin D they provide
- Several tablespoons a day may be necessary to maintain recommended blood levels of vitamin
These include:
- magnesium
- zinc
- vitamin K2
- boron
- genestein
- a tiny amount of vitamin A
Taking cod liver oil (or increasing vitamin D through supplements) could actually worsen an underlying magnesium deficiency...
which is already common throughout North America.
Brands of Cod Liver Oil Most brands of cod liver oil go through a process that removes all of the natural vitamins including vitamin D...
although some manufacturers add vitamins to the final product.
Cod liver oil that is unheated, fermented and produced with a filtering process that retains the natural vitamins is widely recommended.
But most popular brands provide only 400 IUs of vitamin D per teaspoon (the equivalent of 1,200 IUs per tablespoon) which is well below recommended levels.
During the winter months in northern regions (north of Boston, Rome and Beijing) several tablespoons would be required each day to maintain adequate blood levels-and additional magnesium would be required to facilitate absorption.
Many brands of cod liver oil have the benefit of providing EPA and DHA acids (which are valuable for the brain and nervous system) but few provide the higher dosage recommended by a growing number of vitamin D experts.
Although manufacturers argue that their oils provide more absorbable nutrients because of the high vitamin A content...
this is widely disputed as vitamin A deficiency is rare in developed countries.
Indeed, too much vitamin A may prove toxic and is particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
A good bone building supplement is an excellent complement to a diet of foods rich in vitamin D.
A higher quality supplement will not only provide additional vitamin D3 but also the magnesium and vitamin K needed to facilitate absorption.
Although cod liver oil is one of the foods rich in vitamin D...
it may not provide as much absorbable vitamin D as expected while providing a false reassurance that intake is adequate.
For more information on bone building supplements that provide vitamin D as well as the necessary magnesium and vitamin K needed for absorption...
visit http://osteoporosis-vitamins.
com/osteoporosis-treatment-guidelines.
html
Source...