Most of us, including three quarters of American adults are vitamin-D deficient, which may cause serious problems. According to National Institute of Health, “vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis… Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the intestine and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone…Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation…”
According to a new study led by Nancy E. Lange, M.D., MPH, of the Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, vitamin-D may delay deterioration of smokers lungs. The study performed on more than 600 adults for over 20 years indicates that vitamin D sufficiency has a protective effect on lung function in smokers (Vitamin D sufficiency is defined as serum vitamin D levels of >20 ng/ml).
Here is the list of the foods with the highest amount of vitamin D:
- Cod liver oil
- Swordfish
- Salmon (sockeye)
- Tuna fish
- Orange juice fortified with vitamin D
- Milk
- Yogurt, fortified with 20% of the DV for vitamin D
