September 18, 2017
Vitamin D – Sunshine Vitamin
It’s that time of year where it feels like winter is lagging on and we will never get a break. (Except for today +6 at the end of February, I will take it.) But normally at this time of year we haven’t seen the sun or at least our skin hasn’t seen the sun. When it’s cold out we tend to bundle up and go from the house to the car or the car to the building. We do this transition from place to place as fast as we can spending little time outside.
The depression and fatigue that is setting in could all be due to a lack of Vitamin D. In the nicer months of the year we don’t notice as we are outside, not covered up, enjoying the sunshine. This is where Vitamin D comes from: Sunshine!! Vitamin D requires more whole body participation than any other vitamin. It starts with the skin absorbing ultra violet light (sunshine). It then interacts in the body with cholesterol and is transferred to the liver and kidneys and converted to Vitamin D.
Functions of Vitamin D
- Regulates calcium metabolism and normal calcification of bones
- Encourages the body’s use of phosphorus and other minerals
- Helps increase absorption of calcium from the gut
- Growth in children – especially bones and teeth
- Helpful maintaining nervous system, heart function and blood clotting
- Reduces incidence of colds
- Menopausal benefits
- Reduces depression and seasonal depression disorder
On top of the many benefits of Vitamin D and how it helps the body function. Deficiency has been linked to seasonal depression disorder. So if you are feeling off and think winter is getting to you, maybe it’s time to take a Vitamin D supplement to get you through till the sun shines again.
Best sources of Vitamin D3 is animal-derived, found in fish liver oil or Cod liver oil is a common source. Egg yolks, butter and liver have some Vitamin D, as do oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines & herring)
