10 Foods That Beat a Multivitamin (Gotta Love # 6!)

Photo credit: bigstock.com

1. Cod Liver Oil

If your mother gave this to you as a kid, you probably do not have good memories of cod liver oil. But there is no denying that vitamin D deficiency is a huge problem in most parts of the world. This is because most people now use huge amounts of sunscreen, limiting their exposure to the sun, which is our best (not to mention free) source of vitamin D. Also, dietary sources of vitamin D are scarce. The few foods that contain vitamin D are fatty fish, egg yolks, and fish liver oil. Mushrooms have some, but only trace amounts. Vitamin D is essential to the body. Without vitamin D, our bodies cannot use the calcium we consume to build strong bones. Vitamin D is also crucial for many of the processes that the body runs every single day. Numerous studies show that people who have the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood have the highest risk of developing cancer.

Cod liver oil is a great way to fight vitamin D deficiency, especially for those who cannot spend time in the sun, or for those who live in areas where there is little or no sunlight during the winter months. You only need about 14 grams (1 tablespoon) of cod liver oil to give you 1400 IU of vitamin D, along with 3 grams of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. You don’t need to use the liquid form if you find the taste not to your liking. Consume cod liver oil supplements.

Cod liver oil does contain vitamin A, so you should not consume more than 2 tablespoons (about 30 grams) per day to prevent overdosing on vitamin A.

Continue to Page 3