The Best Sources for Natural Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of the hardest vitamins for people to get solely based on their diet.  Most people have a hard time eating enough fish and fortified milk, the two major sources of natural vitamin D.  For people that are allergic to either seafood or dairy, getting enough natural vitamin D may seem almost impossible. 

The good news is that the best source of natural vitamin D is something that most people have more than adequate exposure to-the sun.  Sunlight and UV rays allow the skin to create the natural vitamin D that it needs.  There is a balance between enough sun and too much sun, and it is important for people to monitor their daily intake of sun to help determine if they are getting enough natural vitamin D.  In general just 10-15 minutes of direct sunlight a few times a week is all that is needed.

Natural Vitamin D in Food

The honest truth is that it is not always easy to get enough vitamin D from food.  Some people, depending on their diets, may not get any vitamin D from the foods they eat.  Because of this fact, it is important to know exactly what foods contain vitamin D and make sure that you have them on hand.  Natural vitamin D is found in foods such as cod liver oil, Pacific oysters, many types of fish, milk fortified with vitamin D, some yogurts, cooked eggs, some beef, and cheddar cheese.  As you can see, most of the natural vitamin D sources in food are fish and other seafood products.  For people who do not like fish or seafood but still want to get natural vitamin D, it is important that they look for dairy products that are labeled that they are fortified with vitamin D.

Nature’s Best Natural Vitamin D Source

The best way to get enough natural vitamin D actually does not involve food of any kind.  Instead, the best source of natural vitamin D is right out your back door.  Adequate exposure to sunlight is what the body really needs when it comes to natural vitamin D.  While it is true that prolonged skin exposure to the sun can lead to other problems, getting a little sun on your skin every day is important.  When the UV rays hit the skin, the skin creates the vitamin D that is necessary.  When a person does not get enough sun, they are in real danger of not getting enough natural vitamin D.  If you do not spend a lot of time outdoors, it may be wise to invest in a sunlamp.  Keep in mind that you need this kind of exposure to the sun every season of the year, so if you live in a place with variable climates or a lot of consistent cloud cover, it is wise to monitor the amount of sun you get to determine if you are getting enough natural vitamin D.  In as little as 10 minutes just a few times a week, you can get recharged in the sun and make sure you are getting enough natural vitamin D.