Vitamin D In Winter Time

Are you part of the majority of people who are deficient in D? 

Vitamin D is one of the most important fat-soluble vitamins that we just simply can’t get enough of. In the summer time, 10-15 minutes of exposure to the direct sunlight allows our skin to produce enough of what we need on a daily basis, but this dynamic shifts in the winter when few places in North America receive enough sunlight to allow us our daily ration. So even if you are out in the winter sun, you may not be reaching your daily allowance for D. This vitamin is well known for its importance in preserving bone density and allowing for calcium and phosphorous absorption, but it is also important for supporting the immune system and fighting illness. Vitamin D also helps to fend off weight gain and even encourage weight loss, as well as fight depression, especially the Seasonal Affective Disorder which is thought to occur in some 20% of Americans. 

Getting enough vitamin D in winter means adding it in through your diet

This would be the easiest (and tastiest) way to add it in, although supplements are also a consideration. Many dairy products are fortified with vitamin D, but consuming it naturally means getting fishy: among some of the best sources of vitamin D are cold water fish such as salmon, cod and halibut, and shellfish including shrimp and oysters. A less thought of, but steady source of D are mushrooms, with some varieties even being fortified with more of the vitamin. 

Pay special attention to your body this winter with a little help from Family Chiropractic & Natural Healing Center. 

We want to help you feel your greatest even when the hours of daylight are shorter and the weather is dreary. Whether this means regulation of the nervous system through chiropractic adjustment or the treatment of tense muscles; improving range of motion or creating dietary awareness, we are there for you! Give our office in Milpitas a call to schedule an appointment today. 

Dr. Gregory Lind, D.C.