Getting Your Vitamins in the Great Outdoors
Michael Byrd
June 20, 2011
Everyone loves being outside on a beautiful day - at least, almost everyone. I'm not sure my sulky teen really loves it when I "let the sunshine in" when she sleeps til noon, but you get the idea...
Anyway, did you know that the time you spend in the great outdoors can also be spent getting the vitamins and other essential nutrients you need to stay healthy? Probably not. But here are two important dietary factors that you can get while enjoying the great outdoors.
For starters, just 15 minutes a day in the sun can give your immune sytem a dramatic boost. The sun is one of the best sources for vitamin D, a vitamin that plays a critical role in keeping you healthy. Whether you just take an afternoon walk or you head out for something more strenuous like a game of ultimate frisbee or a hike up the local mountain, your exposure to sunlight will help keep you healthy and strong.
Next, you need to work on getting your omega 3 fatty acids. Now, the best source of omega 3 fatty acids is fatty fish - like salmon. So I would recommend a healthy course of salmon fishing for all you sportsmen out there. Of course, I should mention that in order to eat enough fish to get your daily dose of omega 3 fatty acids, you need to plan on catching and eating at least two pounds of fish a day.
So you might want to have a backup plan so that fishing for omega 3 oils does not become your full-time job! Honestly, I would opt out of the fishing route and just take a daily omega 3 fatty acid fish oil supplement. That way, you can fish without the pressure and still enjoy a healthy immune system.
Anyway, did you know that the time you spend in the great outdoors can also be spent getting the vitamins and other essential nutrients you need to stay healthy? Probably not. But here are two important dietary factors that you can get while enjoying the great outdoors.
For starters, just 15 minutes a day in the sun can give your immune sytem a dramatic boost. The sun is one of the best sources for vitamin D, a vitamin that plays a critical role in keeping you healthy. Whether you just take an afternoon walk or you head out for something more strenuous like a game of ultimate frisbee or a hike up the local mountain, your exposure to sunlight will help keep you healthy and strong.
Next, you need to work on getting your omega 3 fatty acids. Now, the best source of omega 3 fatty acids is fatty fish - like salmon. So I would recommend a healthy course of salmon fishing for all you sportsmen out there. Of course, I should mention that in order to eat enough fish to get your daily dose of omega 3 fatty acids, you need to plan on catching and eating at least two pounds of fish a day.
So you might want to have a backup plan so that fishing for omega 3 oils does not become your full-time job! Honestly, I would opt out of the fishing route and just take a daily omega 3 fatty acid fish oil supplement. That way, you can fish without the pressure and still enjoy a healthy immune system.
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