Intertribal Life Newspaper -

Dear Nidobak,

It is now early spring “wskizigwaniwi” a season we are all quite grateful for, I’m sure. There is nothing like hope and sunshine to put a smile on anyone’s face. Being inside most of the time in winter, it isn’t hard to understand why most people have a lack of Vitamin D. To get the proper amount of this nutrient you would have to spend 10 to 20 minutes in the sun at least three times a week with your bare skin mostly exposed.

I set out to find which foods contain the most Vitamin D naturally and oily fish win in that round: Salmon, Herring, Halibut, Tuna, Mackerel, and even Cod plus some mushrooms. I’m sorry but I don’t know what species of the fungi though.

In many studies, having good levels of Vitamin D shows that it lowers the risk of certain cancers like breast, prostate, colon, lung and others. It also helps fight diabetes, manage pain and it is helping make muscle and get into bones along with calcium.

A study done at Tufts University showed that Vitamin D may be able to prevent osteoporosis in women. That’s promising.

Although I spend a great deal of time outside, my doctor prescribes a Vitamin D supplement. Now and again, we get a craving for cold herring marinated in wine sauce with onions. With homemade potato salad and some kind of green or baked beans, this is a good supper any time of year. Another good and tasty Vitamin D loaded dinner is:

Tuna Tango

1 pound tuna (or salmon) steak, poached and chilled

8 ounces fresh raw spinach, washed & chilled

1 small can chick peas

4 strips of bacon, cooked, kept warm

½ medium red onion, sliced paper thin

Save the bacon fat and set aside. Use a large serving platter to make a green bed with the spinach. Place the fish on top. Sprinkle the drained chick peas, thin sliced onion and crumble the warm bacon on top. Add a little apple cider vinegar to the warm bacon fat to make a vinaigrette and sprinkle this over everything.