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  • From: "WILLIAM JONES" <billj AT harborside.com>
  • To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Cc:
  • Subject: [Homestead] Vegan Vitamin D
  • Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 14:51:12 GMT

So you've probably all heard that the only ways to get you vitamin D are to
go in the sun, take a pill, or eat some fat from an animal who's been in the
sun: thus the invention of brie, etc.  Well, that's not quite true.  The
first vitamin D ever synthesized was made from ergosterol, the plant
equivalent of cholesterol.  This compound works great for all animals except
birds and New World monkeys.  Well, guess what, you can easily make it
yourself!!!  The cell walls of mushrooms consist of ergosterol and chitin
(the stuff that bugs' carapaces are made of).  When irradiated with UV
(present in ordinary sunshine) this ergosterol is converted is
ergocalciferol, or vitamin D2.  So simply slice some mushrooms thinly and
either dry them in the sun, or with a small black light (also helps keep them
sterile).  There's even a commercial enterprise devoted to this newfangled
art, the Monterey Mushroon Company, easily found by googling.  I won't even
ask the price. :)
Anyway, make sure to maximize your vitamin D absorption by pureeing them and
adding some source of fat.  Cream of mushroom soup?


  • [Homestead] Vegan Vitamin D, WILLIAM JONES, 06/24/2012

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