Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Vitamin D, also known as the Sunshine Vitamin, is a natural remedy to boosting your immune system and filling your body with the sufficient amount of nutrients to support normal growth and development. Often times, the so-called Sunshine Vitamin gets its reputation as it’s produced in your skin in response to sunlight.

However, the winter seasons do not bring a ton of sunshine that is necessary for your body to continue keeping your immune system up to par. Thus, we ask the question: Are you getting enough Vitamin D?

The Beginning: The Benefits of Vitamin D

Bone Building 🦴

Vitamin D is famous for its bone-building and strengthening powers. It promotes absorption of calcium in your body, which ultimately allows for normal mineralization of your bones.

Muscle Strengthening 💪🏻

Along with its bone-building abilities, Vitamin D is also influential in strengthening muscles. Having a lack of this vitamin in your body can increase the risk of having weak muscles.

Supporting Your Immune System 🤒

Vitamin D has a healing property that works with your body to fight those pesky germs. It can support the immune system by fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses. There has been a study that created a correlation between the winter season and increased cases of influenza and other respiratory illnesses as an outcome of not enough Vitamin D. Needless to say, the Sunshine Vitamin is your best flu-fighting friend!

How to Get More Vitamin D

Now that the benefits of Vitamin D have been laid out and how important it is in your life, here comes the fun part! Many individuals are still getting inadequate amounts of Vitamin D, and we are here to give you some tips on how to change that during the winter months.

1. The Importance of Sunlight ☀️

The major cause of Vitamin D deficiency is inadequate exposure to sunlight, a key feature during those gloomy snow ridden days that the winter brings.

Some helpful tips to gain more sunlight in your life are the little things in life such as eating your breakfast in a well lit place, open your curtains to let in the sun (any amount helps) as well as heading outside for at least 15 minutes during the day will suffice the lack of sunshine that the winter brings.

2. Change Up Your Food 🐟

Aside from the sun, you can also get extra Vitamin D through certain foods like fatty fish. Those salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines. Aside from fish, another nutritious option is mushrooms (believe it or not!). Certain mushrooms are exposed to ultraviolet light that inhibit Vitamin D levels. Did someone say cream and mushroom soup soon?

Correspondingly, foods like milk, orange juice, yogurt, and breakfast cereals can also be fortified with Vitamin D.

3. Supplements 😊

Vitamin D supplements are available to help you get your daily dose of this important hormone without having to brave the cold. You can also take other oral supplements, such as a cod liver oil tablet, in order to reduce any present deficiencies. 

Now that you know the importance of Vitamin D in your life, you should be all set to stay happy and healthy all winter long!