About Robyn
Robyn Openshaw is the author or editor of 10 titles, including the bestselling book
The Green Smoothies Diet, the children's book,
The Adventures of Junk Food Dude, and the course
12 Steps to Whole Foods. She’s passionate about overthrowing the Standard American Diet by teaching people to eat more whole foods easily, inexpensively, and deliciously. She’s the mom of 4 competitive athletes as well as a runner, cyclist, skier, and competitive tennis player. She travels all over the world speaking to sold-out audiences and studying non-toxic cancer treatment for her next project.
I put 1/2 teaspoon in each of our green smoothies ( I use the lemon flavored ), and it gives the smoothies a nice citrus taste. My kids don’t very much milk, so I love knowing they get their vitamin D- especially in the winter. I’m also curious to know what you think of it, Robyn!
My take:
It tastes disgusting.
What about the health benefits? Does it go along with your plan?
Uh, I think you can get the same thing from whole foods and sunshine, but it certainly has stood the test of time, that supplement. I would just be very careful about sourcing–make sure it is coming from uncontaminated waters (very common–metals and serious contaminants are often concentrated in fish) and the oil is fresh. Fish oil isn’t what it was billed to be, when it was all the rage 5-10 years ago, with newer evidence saying it does not, in fact, help your heart. Search this blog for more depth on my opinions on fish oil.
Heavy metals such as mercury are stored in fish muscle, not fat. So fish oil is pretty safe as far as mercury is concerned. My family just started taking fermented cod liver oil from Green Pastures. It’s a whole food and prepared in the traditional manner rather than heat-processed and refined. I don’t think it tastes too bad. I give it to my kids with a tiny bit of jam and they’ve never complained. I’ve never used any other kind of fish oil so I can’t say how it compares.
I just found out that I’m severely deficient in vitamin D. California sunlight is just not doing it for me on a plant-based diet. I consider CLO good insurance against deficiencies of vitamin D as well as vitamin A (important for children since they may not properly convert the plant form). I used to think that sunlight would be enough, but there are so many variables at play and vitamin D is too important to risk a deficiency.
Robyn,
Are there any vegan foods that contain Vitamin D? I thought that animal products contained a tiny bit of Vitamin D (insufficient amount) and that plant products contained none.
I agree that sunshine should be sufficient during the summer, but what about during the winter, or if you shower after going out in the sun (interferes with the absorption of Vitamin D) or things like that?
From what I have heard from both Dr. Oz and Dr. Asa cod liver is one of the best ways to get your vitamin D. I have tried fish oil in the past and hated the nasty taste that came with burping it later in the day. With cod liver oil I purchase a high quality brand flavored with orange. I was really dreading downing my first spoon of it. I was so suprised at the at taste… it was not bad or fishy tasting at all. It was like a bland, tasteless cooking oil with a hint of orange. Cod liver oil is also your best best for supplementing your omega-3s. I used to do just flaxseed oil but then I learned that it must go through a 2 step process in order to be used by your body. The liver must first convert it to alpha linoleic acid before the body can use it as and omega-3 thus you only absorb 15-20% of it. Whereas cod liver oil requires no conversion by your body to be able to use it as an omega-3.