Where’s the sunshine? It’s been cloudy and rainy for two months here in Georgia and you can start to feel down about it. I wish we could send some rain to places that need it most right now.
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No matter what season it is, if you aren’t getting proper sun exposure, then your vitamin D levels may be low.
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Since Vitamin D actually acts as a hormone in the body, it can affect your overall health and well-being.
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You need it for good immune function (hello flu and corona virus), balanced mood, muscle and bone strength, and to beat fatigue.
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Often, people don’t realize that you can get vitamin D through foods.
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It’s naturally-occurring in fatty fish like salmon, trout, and sardines as well as egg yolk and liver.
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One of my favorite sources is mushroom! Mushroom exposed to sunlight have significantly more vitamin D. There are even some brands of sun-dried mushrooms for snacking.
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The thing is, whether plant or animal, we all ultimately produce vitamin D with sun exposure.
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It’s a balance of wearing sunscreen and getting your vitamin D. Those with darker skin need more time in the sun.
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If you do need to take a supplement, take Vitamin D3 with some Vitamin K2. They are both important in calcium metabolism as K2 also helps to bring the calcium to the bones.
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Dosage amounts vary with recommendations ranging from 600-800 IU’s/ day, although many would argue that 1000-2000 IU’s or more per day is better.
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It really depends on what you need as there is a lot of individual variation.
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In addition to the above, you can also check out this two-minute Health Hacks video on AOL (google search Health Hacks AOL). I was the main content developer for this video series. Scroll down to see the one on Winter Blues.
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I also like to think of this cloudy season as an opportunity to tend to my inner light —the sunshine within — with meditation, yoga, tai chi, and sipping tea.
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Love always,
Dr. Dijamco
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