Top 5 Sources Of Vitamin D

Vitamin D has become an incredibly popular topic, as it is very important to our health. Proper Vitamin D levels have been linked to all sorts of health benefits, including strong and healthy bones. Here are the top five sources to get more Vitamin D.

5. Wild Salmon: Fish is a great source of vitamin D, and salmon is one of the best options. The American Heart Association recommends eating oily, fatty fish like salmon about twice per week. Seek out wild salmon if possible, as farm raised salmon has significantly lower levels of vitamin D.

4. Bacon: Yes, everyone's favorite breakfast side is actually good for you! Good quality, organic bacon (preferably from free range pigs) tastes good and has nutritious vitamin D.

3. Lard: Back in the good old days, lard was quite commonly used in everything from tortillas to pies. Since then, a shift in culture has favored vegetable oils and synthetics in its place. Despite lard's unhealthy image, it is actually quite high in vitamin D. The lard typically found in stores is homogenized, which means it doesn't have the full value of vitamin D. With some time and a little research you can actually render your own lard from pig fat.

2. Cod Liver Oil: For many years cod liver oil was treated as a daily dietary supplement. Cod liver oil has the highest level of vitamin D out of any food source. Some might call this a bit of an acquired taste, and it isn't something most people will be anxious for seconds. Although there are a few different kinds of cod liver oil, fermented is the best kind, as it doesn't include synthetic vitamin D.

1. Sunlight: Not surprisingly, the number one source of vitamin D comes from the sun. Vitamin D helps keep our immune system strong, which is why flu and colds are much more prominent in the winter months.

Simply spending some time outdoors is enough to get your body the vitamin D it needs. The amount of time needed to absorb vitamin D is based on how light or dark your skin is; lighter skin requires less time in the sun and darker skin requires more time in the sun.

For many people, spending enough time outdoors can sometimes be difficult. Things like weather and busy schedules prevent many from getting outside during the peak sunshine hours. If you can't make it outside, one of the easiest ways to get that vitamin D is at the tanning salon.

The bulbs inside the tanning salon work the same way the sun does to help our skin create vitamin D. Tanning salons have been paying close attention to these studies and know that they are providing their customers more than just a service that offers darker skin.