"vitamin d" news and stories

Vitamin D, known by young and old alike as the sunshine vitamin, might soon come from a source that's usually not associated with sunlight: mushrooms.

A preliminary study backed by the Food and Drug Administration reports that exposing mushrooms to ultraviolet light for a short period of time endows them with a huge amount of vitamin D. Five minutes of UV exposure turns the commonplace white button mushroom into a superfood with a whopping 869 percent of the RDA of vitamin D. That's more of the vitamin than is found in two tablespoons of cod liver oil, and probably much tastier.

[photo: Wikipedia]

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Hungry Girl has a quick and easy to read rundown of the properties of Vitamins A through K, complete with information about what each vitamin is, what it does and where to get it.

For example, Vitamin A is primarily found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables, while Vitamin D is in fish, like salmon and tuna, and can also be gotten from spending time in the sun. Vitamin B mostly comes from animal-based sources, but can also be found in whole grains and green, leafy vegetables. Citrus fruits will provide plenty of Vitamin C, which can help fight colds and other illnesses. Vitamin E boosts your immune system, while K regulates blood clotting. For a full listing of all you need to know about these vitamins, check out Hungry Girl's list.

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Just one vitamin that is crucial to our health and well being - D.  Vitamins themselves are substances that are required by our bodies in small amounts but are not produced internally and are therefore needed in the daily diet.  A few facts on vitamin D -

• Vitamin D is recommended for combating osteoporosis as it aids the absorption of calcium.
• The natural form is known as cholecalciferol and is made in the skin when cholesterol reacts with ultaviolet light from the sun.
• Good sources of Vitamin D - Salt water fish such as herring, salmon, sardines, mackerel, eel and other fish liver oils. Small quantities of vitamin D are also derived from eggs, veal, beef, butter, and vegetable oils.
• Plants, fruits, and nuts are extremely poor sources of vitamin D. Fortification of foods such as milk, margarine and butter, cereals, and chocolate mixes help in meeting the RDA recommendations.
• The World Health Organisation has definded that the "International Unit of vitamin D recommended for adoption is the vitamin D activity of 0.025 micrograms of the international standard preparation of crystalline vitamin D₃". Thus, 1.0 IU of vitamin D is 0.025 micrograms, which is equivalent to 65.0 pmoles." Well I hope thats all clear!