Sunshine on a Cloudy Day - Tools for Keeping Your Vitamin D Level Up this Winter

 

In fact here in the cold, snowy Midwest, Vitamin D deficiency is at its worst during the winter months when our ability to absorb it through sunlight is restricted. That means most of us are getting far less than the recommended 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) of Vitamin D we need each day.

Every tissue in our body needs vitamin D to work correctly. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and helps us to maintain adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations for normal bone mineralization. Without it bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen, leading to rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.

In addition, studies have shown that Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including the reduction of inflammation, modulation of such processes as cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and glucose metabolism 

If you've never checked your Vitamin D, I recommend ordering one of Grassroots Health's home test kits. These involve sending a quick and painless blood sample to a lab and answering an online questionnaire. Because levels can change dramatically as the seasons change I have found a huge benefit to testing regularly. 

In fact, even without testing, the signs of D-deficiency are often noticeable:

Because it's so hard to stay within the recommended range of Vitamin D during the winter months, you might also find it helpful to use a high-quality supplement.

Omega-3 is vital to almost every metabolic process in the body but Omegagize also contains Vitamin D3 and CoQ10. These ingredients work synergistically to increase the absorption of nutrients that have been shown to support normal brain, heart, eye, and joint health.   

Super D 

My favorite vegan-friendly chewable tablet! It contains 250% of the daily value of vitamin D. This high-quality supplement is made from D3 (the most bioavailable form of Vitamin D.) Super D is made with lemon balm extract and Lime and Melissa essential oils so it tastes good too.

Ningxia Red  

Packed with powerful antioxidants and superfoods, NingXia Red is a delicious, caffeine-free energy drink. It contains wolfberry, plum, aronia, cherry, blueberry, and pomegranate juices and extracts. Clinical studies have shown that NingXia Red significantly increases physical energy levels, improves sleep patterns, and reduces daily stress to improve mental well-being. It also contains a blend of premium essential oils, including Orange, Yuzu, Lemon, and Tangerine. These ingredients combine to help prevent oxidative stress, support normal cellular function, and promote healthy energy levels.*  Everyone in my family drinks 2oz of Ningxia Red every day.

A perfect tool for anyone seeking to get their Vitamin D from sunlight is the dminder App. It allows you to track current and future sun exposure and plan for when you can safely absorb a daily dose of Vitamin D from the sun - without the risk of sunburn.

According to the app, it's nearly 36 days until our next dose of Vitamin D-filled sunshine in Illinois. . .  But I know you'll be ready for it!🌞