Vanadium-Rich Foods: Sources and Health Benefits

Vanadium is a trace mineral that is found in the body and in different foods. Including vanadium in the diet can be helpful to the body in a variety of ways, including helping to reduce heart disease and tooth cavities and improving the insulin balance in the body. Many foods are naturally high in vanadium.

Parsley

• Parsley is an leafy green herb that is high in vanadium and can be eaten straight from the garden, added as a garnish or cooked into a soup or stew. When selecting parsley, choose a bunch that is medium to dark green, fresh and mature. A healthy mature bunch of parsley will contain higher levels of vanadium than parsley that is younger and less green.

Lobster

• Lobster is an animal protein that is high in vanadium and can be eaten steamed, in a seafood stew or soup or mixed into a seafood salad. Although there are health benefits from eating lobster due to the high vanadium content, lobster is also high in cholesterol.

Gelatin

• Gelatin is a thickener that contains high levels of vanadium and is used to make desserts. Since gelatin contains animal ingredients, people who are vegan or vegetarian will need to get added vanadium from other sources.