More people than ever are becoming aware of the importance of nutrition — not just for maintaining good health, but for supporting immunity, mental clarity, and emotional resilience. One of the most pressing concerns? Vitamin D deficiency, especially among young adults.
A recent survey by Lycored, a leading nutritional ingredient company, found that 66% of people worry they are not getting enough vitamin D. This concern is particularly high among millennials aged 25–34, with 74% expressing anxiety over their vitamin D levels.
Global Differences in Vitamin D Awareness and Concern
When broken down by region, concern about vitamin D intake was significantly lower in New Zealand (53%), compared to the U.S. (72%) and Australia (69%). This reflects broader lifestyle differences, dietary access, and public health messaging across countries.
These concerns align with data from previous years showing a dramatic increase in interest and demand for vitamin D, especially in countries where government health agencies promote supplementation. In the U.K., for example, official health advice to take 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily contributed to a 20% rise in vitamin D-enriched product launches in a single year.
Immune Support Is Driving Supplement Choices
Across all demographics, immune health has become the leading reason people take dietary supplements. According to data from the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), 32% of supplement users now cite immunity as their top concern, surpassing even energy.
In addition to immune support, consumers are turning to supplements for:
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Filling nutrient gaps (25%)
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Supporting heart health (23%)
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Enhancing hair, skin, and nails (22%)
Top ingredients include vitamin D (47%), vitamin C (61%), and multivitamins (57%), with others like zinc, probiotics, and elderberry also gaining popularity.
Nutritional Gaps Among U.S. Veterans
Nutritional deficiencies aren't limited to the general public. Among U.S. military veterans, these issues are often even more pronounced — and sometimes dangerously overlooked.
Don Wright, an Army veteran and health coach working with disabled veterans through Catch A Lift Fund, shared that many of the individuals he supports are significantly overweight and dealing with the side effects of multiple prescription medications. Despite these health challenges, routine bloodwork rarely includes vitamin or omega-3 testing.
When those tests are finally done — often through private physicians or functional medicine practitioners — the results are alarming: consistently low levels of vitamin D, omega-3s, and essential minerals.
The Link Between Processed Diets and Deficiency
According to Wright, the average veteran diet is heavily reliant on processed food and low in vegetables and healthy fats. These eating patterns lead to a wide range of deficiencies and health symptoms, including:
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Brain fog
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Fatigue
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Weak immunity
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Emotional instability
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Poor metabolic function
He encourages veterans to adopt diets richer in nutrient-dense foods and healthy oils, such as olive oil, avocado oil, flaxseed oil, and fatty fish like salmon. However, access and affordability remain significant barriers.
Why Omega-3 Levels Should Be a Standard Health Metric
Despite the increasing body of evidence supporting omega-3 benefits, omega-3 testing is still not common practice in most healthcare settings. Yet the Omega-3 Index, which measures the EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes, is emerging as a powerful indicator of both physical and mental well-being.
For instance, a study of U.S. soldiers published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that those with the lowest DHA levels had up to 80% higher risk of suicide than those with the highest levels. An Omega-3 Index of 6% or higher was associated with significantly lower psychological risk.
What’s Behind Low Omega-3 Levels?
One major reason for widespread omega-3 deficiency is the overconsumption of omega-6 fatty acids — found in many vegetable oils, processed foods, and fried snacks. The ideal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio should be close to 4:1, but in many Western diets, this ratio exceeds 20:1.
This imbalance contributes to:
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Inflammation
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Cardiovascular disease
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Cognitive decline
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Mood disorders
Why Nutrient Testing Matters
Routine blood panels often overlook essential vitamins and fatty acids. Don Wright encourages all individuals — not just veterans — to request comprehensive nutrient testing, including vitamin D and omega-3 status. These deficiencies are treatable and, when addressed, can lead to dramatic improvements in both physical and emotional health.
Testing your Omega-3 Index and vitamin levels offers a clear starting point for change. It shifts the focus from treating symptoms with medication to understanding and addressing root causes through lifestyle and dietary improvements.
How to Support Nutritional Health, Simply
Optimizing your diet doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Small, consistent steps — like eating more fish, reducing processed food, and supplementing where needed — can build the foundation for better health, energy, and mood.
One of the most powerful tools in this journey? High-quality marine omega-3 supplementation.
Support Brain and Immune Health with Ballstad Omega-3
Ballstad Omega-3 offers a reliable and accessible solution to improving omega-3 status. Each dose delivers concentrated EPA and DHA, the two omega-3s clinically proven to support:
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Heart health
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Cognitive performance
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Mood stability
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Immune system resilience
Sourced from pristine waters and manufactured with strict quality standards, Ballstad Omega-3 is ideal for anyone seeking to correct a deficiency — or simply protect their long-term health.
If you’re ready to take control of your wellness from the inside out, start by measuring your Omega-3 Index — and choose Ballstad to help you raise it.
