According to Scientific American, three-quarters of U.S. teens and adults are deficient in vitamin D, the so-called “sunshine vitamin.” These deficits are increasingly blamed for everything from cancer and heart disease to diabetes. Vitamin D3 deficiency can result in obesity, diabetes, hypertension, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis and neuro-degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease. Despite this research, no international health organization or governmental body has declared a health emergency to warn the public about the urgent need of achieving sufficient Vitamin D blood levels.
Exposure to sunshine each day helps the human body manufacture the required amount of Vitamin D. However, studies conducted on people who live in colder climates indicate that they do not get nearly enough outdoor sunshine to increase their Vitamin D levels. Add to that the growing number of people who wear long sleeves to avoid the risks of skin cancer and the sun is no longer a viable way for many people to get the adequate amount of Vitamin D into their systems.
How then, should Americans, and people around the globe increase their Vitamin D absorption level? One solution that we at Channel Fish recommend is eating more fish! Fish is loaded with important nutrients, such as protein and vitamin D. Fatty fish like salmon and herring contain the highest amounts. For example, 113 grams (4 ounces) of cooked salmon (= 1 serving) contains 100% of your recommended Vitamin D intake. If you are looking for your daily dose of Vitamin D short of standing outside for hours in every kind of weather, try a heart healthy, tasty meal of fish as a part of your regular diet.
