Vitamin D Enriched Foods: Benefits, Sources, Importance

Our body is nothing more than a machine that stays alive on a bunch of different things like vitamins, nutrients and other biomolecules. For our bodies to work properly, we need to consume a set amount of Vitamins. They are very important as they deal with different functions of the body. Among these is one of the most important vitamins i.e, vitamin D. There are many Vitamin D enriched foods on the market, but still, people don’t fully understand why people need vitamin D. In this blog, we will tell you about Vitamin D enriched foods and how they benefit your body. 

Before knowing the benefits of vitamin D enriched foods, we first have to know what vitamin D is and how it helps our body.

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble Secosteroids that helps in the intestinal absorption of calcium, phosphate and magnesium. Vitamin D is a group of vitamins that includes vitamins like D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. They are also known as Calciferols. Each one of these vitamins has its own role in our body. Some help in the absorption of calcium, while some help in the absorption of phosphate. 

Why Is Vitamin D Important? 

As we mentioned above, Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium, making sure that your bone mineral density remains normal and your bones stay strong. It also helps with the regulation of the nervous system and the proper functioning of hormonal glands. Vitamin D enriched foods also promote cell growth and keep our immune system active. 

Some Of The Best Vitamin D Enriched Foods

If you want to keep your body healthy, it’s important to have enough vitamin D in the system. Here are some of the best vitamin D enriched foods that will keep you healthy. . 

Mushroom

It might come as a surprise to many, but mushrooms are a great source of vitamin D and one of the best vitamin D enriched foods out there. It naturally converts sunlight into vitamin D and can be eaten in a variety of ways like cooking, baking or frying it. Mushrooms are very rich in vitamin D, and you can fulfil your daily required vitamin D intake of 800IU (International Units) from as little as 50g of mushrooms. 

Oranges

Another one of the best vitamin D enriched foods is orange. Whole oranges and orange juice are great sources of vitamin D, along with other nutrients, including calcium. A single cup of orange contains as much as 100 IU. 

Bananas

Banana might seem a bit out of place here, as it is not one of the vitamin D enriched foods. However, it does have a lot of magnesium. Magnesium activates the vitamin D present in your bloodstream, making it very important if you suffer from vitamin D deficiency. 

Spinach

You might remember the scenes from the cartoon Popeye where he used to eat spinach and gain instant energy. Although a bit exaggerated, spinach really is a wonder food as it contains vitamin D and calcium at the same time, making it one of the best vitamin D enriched foods. Consuming 1 cup of boiled spinach daily can work wonders on your health. 

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is also a great vitamin D enriched food. The best thing about yoghurt is it is rich in calcium. So, while improving your vitamin D levels, it also provides you with calcium, protein and gut-friendly good bacteria. Ideally, you should consume 1 cup of yoghurt daily at max. 

Soy Milk

Soy milk is made from the soy plant and is a rich source of vitamin D, protein and iron. 500 ml of soy milk fulfils around 30% of the daily requirement of vitamin D, making it among the best vitamin D enriched foods. 

Cheese

Who doesn’t like cheese? Every one of us consumes at least some type of cheese. It is one of the best sources of vitamin D. Although it doesn’t have a lot of vitamin D, its other nutrients make up for it and make cheese one of the most healthy foods around. 

Cereals

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and cereals are considered the best breakfast menu. Along with a healthy amount of vitamin D, it also has numerous other nutrients, which makes it one of the best vitamin D enriched foods on the planet. 

Eggs

Eggs contain one of the highest amounts of vitamin D compared to other foods. 2 boiled eggs can account for up to 80% of your daily vitamin D requirement. The amount of vitamin present in an egg can differ based on a multitude of factors we will not get into. However, one thing is for sure: egg is one of the best vitamin D enriched foods out there. 

Our Take On The Matter

Deficiency of Vitamin D can lead to some acute disorders like rickets and osteoporosis, and it can severely affect the quality of your life. Osteoporosis is the condition where our bones start to lose their density, resulting in weak and brittle bones. This disease can also be fatal under some circumstances. So it’s better that you take good care of your body by providing it with all the necessary nutrients. The above-listed foods are the best examples of vitamin D-enriched foods.