We have all been witnessing the crazy effects of global warming as the weather (no matter where you live) is like being on a roller coaster- some days sunny and warm and some days blustering cold! But, no matter what the temperature outside is, are you getting out enough on a daily basis to breathe in the fresh air and get your Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is dubbed the “sunshine vitamin”. Actually, vitamin D is not a vitamin nor a nutrient; it is a hormone produced by the body in the skin from a photolytic reaction with ultraviolet light.
Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin after exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet B rays, and is crucial for calcium absorption and the maintenance of strong, healthy bones. But, while I love the crisp weather in the fall and winter and long for warm temps in spring and summer, the winter sun isn’t strong enough to help us out. And even in the summer months, depending on your skin type, you will need more of the sunshine vitamin than you can get from just being outside.
So, what do you do to obtain this nutrient that we don’t want to be lacking in? Well, first off, there is not one blanket recommendation for how much vitamin D we all need. It depends on skin color, age, health conditions and sun exposure during warmer months. And you should definitely consult with your health care provider on how much your body needs.
While vitamin D comes in a pill form at your local health store or pharmacy, it can also be retrieved in the foods we eat. For example, fatty fish (like salmon, tuna and sardines), cod liver oil, beef liver, egg yolks and some mushrooms are great sources. But, it can be challenging to get as much of the “vitamin” you need through these foods. And that is one reason you see so many foods (like dairy products fortified with vitamin D). But, all in all, eating foods, not too much, just the “right” amount for your body”, and your mind and soul, will do your body right!