Vitamin D And Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Having lived beside the oceans and spent many hours working in the sunshine, paleolithic man consumed a significant quantity of omega 3 from oily fish and manufactured a daily dose of vitamin D from the sun's rays. Modern living conditions have changed this way of life for many, with our nutrient status suffering as a result.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D refers to a family of chemicals that serve a range of roles in the body. The National Institute of Health points out that specialized cells in the skin can manufacture vitamin D3 following exposure to intense sunlight. Those living in Northern states will find themselves unable to produce any vitamin D3 between November and March since the UVB rays from the sun drop in intensity. However, you can also obtain vitamin D3 from oily fish and eggs, and vitamin D2 from irradiated mushrooms. Cod liver oil offers 1,360 international units per teaspoon and represents the richest source of the nutrient.

Benefits

Dr. Joseph Mercola, the U.S. physician who has written several books on alternative approaches to health care, believes that vitamin D represents one of the most important compounds in the human body. He notes that it affects the expression of more than 2,000 genes in the human body, and plays a role in the immune function, mood and energy, cancer prevention and bone health. Mercola also highlights how Americans generally have very low blood levels of vitamin D during the winter due to the lack of nutrient production at the skin during this time.

Omega 3

Omega-3 oils represent a sub-section of fats. Udo Erasmus, Ph.D., the Canadian researcher who wrote the book "Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill," explains that these oils provide extremely healthy effects in the human body. Although official advice may warn you against consuming oils, Erasmus notes how these polyunsaturated oils act very differently compared to saturated fats from butter or trans-fats from pastries and baked goods. Oily fish and flaxseed oil stand out as your best sources of omega 3.

Benefits

Omega-3 oils can help you in a wide variety of ways. As noted by Erasmus, they can boost fat-burning, improve cholesterol profiles, reverse insulin resistance and boost circulation. However, the researcher believes that 99 percent of the Western population requires more of these healthy fats. He points to those with diabetes, heart disease, cancer and chronic diseases who can benefit from increased consumption of the oils.

Cod Liver Oil

Although Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids remain very much separate substances, they do occur together in some foods. Oily fish, which represent a good source of omega-3 oils, do contain small amounts of vitamin D. Cod liver oil, long consumed during the winter in Scandinavian countries, stands out as a good source of both.