What Are The Best Sources Of Vitamin D?
For years, vitamin D has primarily been thought of in terms of keeping healthy bones and teeth, although it has a lengthy list of other benefits. Vitamin D protects the immune system in a variety of ways, but its anti-infective effects are of particular interest to scientists and laypeople when it comes to infectious disorders like COVID-19. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to the occurrence of various infectious illnesses, including upper respiratory tract infections and enteroviruses, as well as pneumonia, ear infections, hepatitis B and C, and HIV infection, according to scientific investigations.
As a result, even in the middle of a new pandemic, many researchers are researching the link between vitamin D deficiency and infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Furthermore, in pragmatic nutritional regimens developing in countries particularly heavily impacted by a pandemic, such as Italy, the guidelines state that in patients with COVID-19 who have a laboratory-confirmed vitamin D insufficiency, vitamin D supplementation should be started right away.
The same criteria apply to the remainder of the non-diseased population: ensuring adequate consumption of all nutrients, with a focus on vitamin D. Maintaining a healthy nutritional status and consequently a robust immune system requires an adequate supply of all vitamins and minerals, particularly those that are frequently low (vitamin D, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc).
Vitamin D deficiency is a significant issue in the northern hemisphere, where over half of the population is deficient for the majority of the year. As a result, the appropriate supply of this vitamin is particularly crucial in terms of public health.
Vitamin D is said to be the world's oldest hormone, and this ancient molecule is unquestionably linked to the health of all forms of life, from phytoplankton to people. The bulk of vitamin D is created in the skin under the effect of sunlight, and dietary intake of this vitamin is quite low in the general population, accounting for just 20% of total daily requirements.
The richest natural sources of vitamin D3 in food are cod liver oil and other fatty fish. Furthermore, foods rich in vitamin D3 include fish (tuna, sardines, mackerel, cod, herring, salmon), crabs and seafood, some mushrooms, yeast, beef liver and egg yolk.
