Recently I had some Vitamin D testing done and it got me thinking more about the importance of this essential vitamin. I've already written about this but I'd like to go a bit more in depth about it. It seems, especially lately, that more and more doctors are performing vitamin D testing on their patients. Vitamin D plays such an important role in keeping us all healthy that doctors are starting to realize that this testing is a very good way to assess someone's overall health.

A normal range of vitamin D is between 32 - 100. When I had my level first checked back in April, it was 24. Not terribly low, but lower than normal. My doctor prescribed me a 50,000 IU vitamin D supplement that I took once a week for 12 weeks. He asked me to come back 2 weeks after I finished my last dose and have it rechecked. When I went back in July for my recheck, my level was 87. He has recommended that I take a vitamin D supplement (1000 IU's) every day from now on. Well, let's just say I'm not a big fan of taking pills, (even supplements) so I have decided to supplement with cod liver oil instead.

Everyone's first reaction is always "Ewwww....that yucky fishy stuff? Blech!" Well, let me just tell you why it's so good for you.  Cod liver oil rich in vitamin D. Vitamin D helps to regulate the cellular level in the body (and thus prevents cancer) and it helps with insulin secretion. Vitamin D also aids in the absorption of calcium which helps to maintain strong bones. Cod liver oil is also rich in omega-3s, which help to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and ease symptoms of hypertension, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and joint pain. How do omega 3s do this? By encouraging the production of body chemicals that help control inflammation -- in the joints, the bloodstream, and the tissues.

I also recently discovered that fermented cod liver oil is the preferred one to take. Why is fermenting so important? Apparently fermented cod liver oil is different because it contains fat soluble vitamins A and D in the correct ratios so our bodies can absorb them and recognize them as a natural product. Most cod liver oil brands go through a process which removes all the natural vitamins. Fermenting the cod liver oil uses a filtering process which helps it to retain all the vitamins.

You can purchase fermented cod liver oil here.

It's also important to get some vitamin D through sunlight. Try to spend some time outdoors every day in order to increase your vitamin D levels. You'll feel happier too!

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Gina  - Cod Liver Oil   |2011-08-20 03:22:49 Hi, I was just wondering if you mix the Cod Liver Oil in something or do you just eat it plain? Also How much do you take? Thank You so much for this piece, you are the first of my research on natural sources of Vitamin D and this article was extremely helpful! Reply | Quote 0   0

Jennifer  - Cod liver oil     |2011-09-05 12:35:18 You can either mix cod liver oil in juice or you can take it plain. I take 1 tsp. daily. Reply | Quote 0   0

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