#realtalk: Vitamin D

Salmon, along with fortified milk, yogurt, and cereals, are high in vitamin D

Salmon, along with fortified milk, yogurt, and cereals, are high in vitamin D

Vitamin D has been a media darling for the past decade.  It has been attached to bone density, myriad cognitive changes, endless lab requests for 'levels', and autoimmune disorders. And much of this stems from we northerners inability to acquire enough through our skin because of the simple concept known as geography. Aside from intake of fortified foods or a supplement, the skins ability to convert it into an active form that the body can use largely comes down to where you live as latitude and longitude, along with time of day and time spent in the sun, determine the intensity and how much vitamin D is created for use.  Here's what we think we know about this 'sunshine vitamin'.

Vitamin D is referred to as a vitamin, but it is actually a hormone.  Among the many roles it plays it is essential for the absorption of calcium. That is why you often see vitamin D and calcium sold together as one supplement.  We also know that those who have very low vitamin D levels are more likely to have quicker bone loss as they age, as well as fractures.  And the reason vitamin D lowers fracture risk is because it helps build muscle. We know this because muscle biopsies studies have shown vitamin D receptors suggesting that it at the very least plays an important role. With stronger muscles - or an increase in lean muscle mass - people are less likely to fall.  And falls are what most often cause fractures. 

Deficiencies have also been associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, e.g. lupus, Type 2 diabetes (T2D), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), and more recently some mental illnesses including depression and bipolar disease.

But too much of a good thing is often just that:  too much, and that means risk is associated with taking in vitamin D through supplementation.  Vitamin D is one of four fat soluble vitamins, and these vitamins are stored in and around the vital organs and in fat. That is why people who are obese have, on average, lower vitamin D levels as it stays absorbed within their fat and is not available in their blood.  If you take more than that is recommended we see an increase in blood calcium. This elevated level, referred to as hypercalcemia, increases your risk of kidney stones.  So how much is too much?

The International Osteoporosis Foundation recommends 800-1000 IU (International Units) per day and that includes your intake through food.  So, if you live northwards of Atlanta, GA then you are likely at risk simply because six months of the year the earth is tipped on its axis away from the sun, and that means the 'sunshine vitamin' is barely accessible because of low intensity.  You see, the skin has remarkable receptors on it that chemically alter the suns ultraviolet-B radiation by stimulating the production of what is commonly known as vitamin D3.  From there it enters the circulation and is transported to the liver and on to the kidneys.  If you wear sunscreen, stay covered up, are elderly and are largely housebound, or live in a northern latitude, then you may likely have a deficiency that could easily be addressed through changing your intake by increasing your consumption of fortified foods e.g. milk and yogurt, or integrating more swordfish and salmon into your diet. A single supplement of 600 IUs with your meal - when it would be best absorbed - may make sense for many who have limited intake of those foods.  

Here is a list of those foods with notable amounts of vitamin D

Cod liver oil, 1 tablespoon 1,360 IU

Swordfish, cooked, 3 ounces 566 IU

Salmon (sockeye), cooked, 3 ounces 447 IU

Tuna fish, canned in water, drained, 3 ounces 154 IU

Orange juice fortified with vitamin D, 1 cup (check product labels, as amount of added vitamin D varies) 137 IU

Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D-fortified, 1 cup 115-124 IU

Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole vitamin D-fortified almond or flax milk, 1 cup 115-124 IU

Yogurt, fortified with 20% of the DV for vitamin D, 6 ounces 80 IU

And what about those other six months of the year in New England? Well, it is likely that 20 minutes twice a week in the sun sans sunscreen will allow that 'sunshine vitamin' to do what it does so naturally.  (Just remember to apply sunscreen afterward.) And for those who do learn of very, very low Vitamin D levels from their lab work?  You will benefit from large doses taken weekly for a defined period of time - like six to eight weeks - and then have it reassessed.

 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2011. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24. Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page, http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl.

For @PAC

 

 

 

 

 

9 Reasons Why WASA Crackers Change Lives

Photograph by Audrey AnastasiaFresh mango salsa prepared with late harvest tomatoes by BL

Photograph by Audrey Anastasia

Fresh mango salsa prepared with late harvest tomatoes by BL

Reason #1:  There is no way you can binge on WASA crackers.

Reason #2:  Two crackers contribute 30g of whole grains.  That's more than 62% of the recommended amount per day, and is associated with decreased risk of heart disease, constipation, and better management of desired body weight.  So, ditch the Ritz®.

Reason #3:  Their parent company, Wasabrød of Sweden, complies with the California Supply Chain Transparency Act. This Act mandates they operate in a manner that respects and safeguards human rights, works to prevent worker exploitation, direct or indirect, and complies with the national and international laws of all countries they work with. Human trafficking and slave labor are alive and well in the food industry, especially where palm oil is traded. You see, palm oil is the most traded edible oil in the world.  The rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia supply about 85% of all palm oil that is grown.  There are not sustainable measures in place for those rainforests and much of the harvest is thanks to child labor.  Unfortunately, the licensed bakers for Girl Scout Cookies and Keebler Grasshoppers aren't adopters of the Act, so by purchasing these products you are contributing to these issues.  Choose brands with a conscious, like WASA.

Reason #4:  All WASA products are non-GMO.

Reason #5:  They contain zero trans fats and are free of partially hydrogenated oils.

Reason #6: Seven of the ten varieties contain no added sugar.  The other three contain <1g/sv.

Reason #7: There are almost always $1 off coupons online making them downright inexpensive.

Reason #8:  They pair perfectly with Trader Joe's Spicy Hummus.

Reason #9:  (it's comin'....)

Fishing for Sustainability

The topic of wild caught vs farm raised fish has been confusing with consumers left wondering if one is really better.  Their are several variables that need to be considered including sustainability, disease, nutritional value, traceability, and freshness.  I'll look at each one of these individually in upcoming blogs, but let's start with sustainability.  

Sustainability is really based on a simple concept:  fishing and catching to meet our needs today without compromising the needs of those of future generations.  Sustainability takes into consideration the method of fishing, as well as long-term health consequences of the livelihoods of those that depend upon the very environment that they are fishing, as well as the environment.  This means that there is a need for strong regulations to ensure that both methods - wild caught and farm raised -  contribute to the overall health of the oceans, as well as the industry. If we overfish, then those species will not be allowed adequate time to replenish.  The oceans and the fishermen are now both jeopardized as there will be limited populations available to fish.

As a consumer, your best bet is to demand that you know where and how the fish you are purchasing was caught.  That means that labeling must be clear. If harvested in the US, and sold from a reputable purveyor, then it must meet the sustainability standards set forth by the Magnuson-Stevens Act.  This Act was established in 1976, with amendments as recent as 2006, to provide a framework from which fishery managers identify the kind, amount, where, when, and how a species is to be caught. The NOAA Fisheries of Law Enforcement takes on this responsibility through the US Coast Guard ensuring sustainability.

So, to answer your question?  Wild caught seafood isn't necessarily better than farm raised despite the media's efforts to convince you otherwise.  The reality is that about half of all seafood that you see in the stores is farm raised.  And farm raised practices run the gamut from environmentally awful to down right restorative. If you like the taste of farm raised fish, demand that they are not adding unnecessary colorants to the flesh for aesthetic purposes, or using antibiotics. Whole Foods does a nice job of labeling; check it out next time you are near one. 

Next time we'll address the nutritional benefits of fish.

 

Reframing Your Relationship With Food

Reframing Your Relationship With Food

Practicing mindful eating is a concept that when understood changes you and your relationship with food.  How you would describe your relationship with food? If you have struggled finding a sense of peace with food, then consider further exploring why that is and how you can go about changing that. It may be time to slow down a bit and understand not only what you are eating, but why you are.