The winter is here, which means less sunshine and often more sad long faces. If you get the winter blues there could be an easy fix. Studies show that people smile less in the wintertime.
The link between sunshine and happiness is critical. If you want to feel better and improve your health make sure you are getting enough vitamin D. Vitamin D is a critical part of a healthy body. It can for the development, growth, and maintenance of a healthy body. Getting Vitamin D is harder in the winter but it is not impossible.
To normalize your Vitamin D levels go into the sun for 15 minutes at least 2 times a week.
Other ways to get Vitamin D include Phytoplankton, zooplankton, and algae. Sunlight is the only natural way to get more Vitamin D.
Health benefits of vitamin D:
Vitamin D plays a key role in optimizing your body’s internal environment so it can help prevent illness. Vitamin D can help prevent many disease such as:
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes and endocrine diseases
• Blood diseases
• Infections
• Autoimmune disorders
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Neurological conditions
• Skin disorders
How to know if you are Vitamin D deficient:
Most Americans do not have enough levels of vitamin D. Even if you live in a sunny place you could be deficient. One way to find out is a simple blood test for calcidiol, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Calcidiol is the main storage form in the body of vitamin D and best represents your levels. It is made in the kidneys and other organs. It will stimulate genes to promote health.
A health level is between 50-100, with above 80 being ideal.
How much vitamin D should I take?
Many people wonder about Vitamin D and how much to take.
On average, 5,000IU a day is a typical dose. The Vitamin D Council recommends 5,000 IU daily because the body uses 1-3,000 IU of vitamin D each day, in order to increase your vitamin D levels, you must take more.
Try to get at least 15 minutes of sunscreen-free sunlight around mid-day (between 12-1pm). Possible ways to get more Vitamin D are to take your lunch break outside, you can enjoy the warm rays, and feel relief and a more centered mind.
If you live in a cold climate, it is even more important to supplement with vitamin D. I recommend sublingual, liquid vitamin D to enhance absorption.
Justin Marostica, a Dentist in Hillsboro, OR says, "It's important to get vitamin D for optimal health."
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