Vitamin D – How Can You Increase It?
Vitamin D is vital for good health. It boosts the immune system and performs other vital functions. Safe sunning can help increase your vitamin D naturally. The ultraviolet rays of the sun convert cholesterol into vitamin D. Safe sunning is minimal exposure to the sun. Too much exposure to solar rays can lead to skin cancer. Some people can get all the vitamin D they need from daily safe sunning, but if you live in Fort Lee, New Jersey, that’s not possible all year. You have to increase your Vitamin D through the food you eat or by taking a supplement.
Why is vitamin D important?
Vitamin D isn’t like other vitamins. It has a structure that’s similar to steroid hormones, such as adrenal or sex hormones. It also performs many of the functions of a hormone. It binds to receptors and triggers specific reactions. It acts as a messenger, affecting every cell of the body. Your body uses vitamin D to boost the immune system. Studies show that about half of the adult population has a vitamin D deficiency. One study showed that 80% of the patients of hospitalized patients with covid, were deficient in vitamin D. Muscle weakness, cancer, depression, osteoporosis, and death can occur from too little vitamin D. Obesity is also linked to vitamin D deficiency.
Besides safe sunning, eating healthy can improve your vitamin D intake.
Cod liver oil is probably the best-known source of vitamin D, but if you’ve ever tasted it, you’ll know why it’s not very popular. Other foods higher in vitamin D, like fatty fish, beef liver or other animal livers, eggs, fish roe—think caviar, a special type of fish roe—lard from free-range pork, eel, and duck fat all contain vitamin D. Some food is fortified with vitamin D, like milk products, orange juice, and cereal.
Make small changes in your eating habits to boost vitamin D.
If you choose animal products from free-range or grass-fed animals or wild salmon, you can boost your vitamin D intake. Their products are far higher in vitamin D than ones raised on traditional factory farms. These types of animal products are also higher in vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids, and CLA. Wild salmon contains about four times the amount of vitamin D as farmed salmon. Poultry liver contains more vitamin D than other types of animal livers.
- Vitamin D is necessary for healthy teeth. It promotes the absorption of phosphorous and calcium, allowing the teeth to recalcify and repair.
- The two primary types are D2 and D3. D2 comes from plant sources and D3 comes from animal sources. Vitamin D helps maintain healthy insulin levels and plays a role in both lung and heart health.
- Your need for vitamin D increases as you age. For people under 70, it’s 600 IU a day. If you’re over 70 it increases to 800 IU daily.
- If you’re safe sunning to boost your vitamin D, start at 5 to 15 minutes daily, depending on your complexion. The lighter your skin, the less time you spend in the sun. It’s safest to do it at noon when the sun is highest.
For more information, contact us today at VIP Fitness Center



Dragging yourself to the gym after a full day at work can be difficult. It’s easy to simply aim your car for home and drive. That won’t make you any healthier and can be the start of quitting your program completely. To make that commitment to healthy eating and regular exercise, you have to find your motivation to be healthy and keep that thought in mind when you feel like quitting.
Who doesn’t want a healthy, powerful immune system that helps protect you from illness and serious conditions? Nobody, that’s who. One way to give your immunity a boost is to consume more fruits and veggies. Clients who come to VIP Fitness in Fort Lee, NJ get nutritional counseling. It includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Some help lower blood pressure, others help lose weight and still others can help boost your immunity. So which vegetables are the best if you want a strong immune system to prevent colds, flu, and other illnesses?
What is mindful eating? It’s simple. It’s taking the time to truly enjoy your food. If you’re a speed eater and can suck up an entire meal in no time, it’s time to change your course and learn to enjoy food. Some people have such a busy schedule, they either eat their meal fast or eat it while they’re doing other things. That takes away from the pleasure of eating. If you wolf down your food, you certainly aren’t experiencing any of the subtleties of the food, like its flavor, texture, and appearance. You also eat more than you probably intend when you have more time to eat.
Many members of VIP Fitness Center in Fort Lee, NJ want exercises for biceps that will make them stronger without getting big and bulky like bodybuilders. The good news is that while you’ll get some extra growth, to get that bodybuilder look, it takes a lot of extra effort. Getting stronger without gaining huge amounts of mass can be done with traditional bicep exercises. You still have to put in the time and be consistent, but you’ll start to see results quickly.
One big mistake we often see people make is being too dedicated. They do an intense workout every day and never take rest days. Taking time to let your muscles recover is important. Without recovery time, you could be sabotaging your fitness goals. You actually build muscle tissue when you’re letting it rest. When you exercise, you make small microtears in the muscles. Resting allows those tears to heal, which builds muscle. If you don’t have that downtime, those muscles never heal and get stronger. Lack of rest can even decrease the size and strength.
Losing weight is all about changing habits and making lifestyle changes. Some of them are harder, like changing your entire menu, while others are easier, such as finding ways to increase your activity, even if it’s just taking the stairs. Drinking water can be one of those simple ways. In fact, it’s far simpler than even parking further from the store and walking more. (Although it can really help if you do both!) How can drinking water help you shed pounds?
There are many benefits from eating watermelon. As the name implies, it contains a lot of water, approximately 92%. That can aid in hydrating you and keeping you feeling full longer. Most people who come to VIP 1 to 1 Fitness know we not only emphasize staying hydrated, but also eating healthy, nutritious foods. Watermelon can be a delicious part of the solution. Hydration is important for organ functioning, regulating body temperature and delivering nutrients to cells.
Is cilantro a super-herb or just a wonderful herb to flavor salsa? It’s easy to answer. There are a number of healthy reasons for adding cilantro to your diet. The cilantro plant looks a lot like parsley when it’s growing and if it bolts and forms flowers, eventually those flowers turn to seed, which is another spice called coriander. People describe the taste of cilantro differently, with some saying it has a peppery, citrusy, fresh taste and others comparing it to the smell of linoleum or like eating soap. Fresh cilantro used to be more difficult to find, but now it’s sold fresh in most groceries in Fort Lee, NJ.