I spend a lot of time typing away on the computer and working indoors. But I was still surprised when my doctor told me I was low in Vitamin D.
To say I need more sun is an understatement.
And I’m not alone.
Over one-third of North Americans don’t get enough vitamin D from the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) energy.
The energy from the sun converts a chemical in your skin into vitamin D3. This is then transformed by the body into active vitamin D.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin.
It plays an important role in many areas of human health, such as:
- bone health
- cancer prevention
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetes
It’s especially important during the winter months to boost immunity and prevent colds and flu.
Getting too little vitamin D is a serious problem that we face in North America.
There are many reasons why people become deficient in this vitamin.
Sunblock and spending too much time indoors is the main cause of deficiency.
A deficiency in this important vitamin can compromise the immune system, weaken bones, raise blood pressure and lead to diabetes, cancer and heart problems.
Most Naturopathic Doctors recommend getting a daily dose of 1000 IU in supplement form. Both vitamin D drops and chewable tablets are popular.
However, there are other ways to increase your levels.
Here Are 5 Ways To Increase Vitamin D
1. Get outside!
You don’t just get this vitamin when it’s blazing hot outside. Even during the cold winter months, it’s recommended that you try to get some sun.
Rather than covering up every inch of your body, take advantage of sunny days and head on outside.
2. Take a high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplement with vitamin D.
This is another excellent way to increase your levels during the winter months.
3. Eat seafood.
It’s a good time of year to choose seafood over red meat, chicken or pasta.
Opt for wild salmon, halibut, cod, sardines, and oysters, which are all great sources of vitamin D.
4. Minimize sunscreen.
Besides being packed with chemicals, slathering sunscreen on your skin blocks the production of vitamin D.
5. Have organic free-range eggs for breakfast and stop tossing the yolks.
If you want to increase your vitamin D levels naturally through your diet, you’ve got to say bye to egg white omelettes and opt for organic egg yolks.
It’s important to stay healthy during the winter months and keep your immune system strong.
Don’t hole up like a recluse this winter.
Embrace the change of season, enjoy warming herbal teas, and go ice-skating.
You have two choices. Complain all winter long or get outside and make snow angels.
Dr. Sara has appeared on multiple radio shows/podcasts, the W Network, Breakfast Television and CP24. For almost 5 years, she worked as the National Spokesperson for a well-known digestive wellness brand, educating across the globe on gut health. Dr. Sara has been named a rising star in Canada receiving the Generation Next award for her outstanding contribution to shaping the future of Canada’s grocery industry. She frequently contributes to large publications and has been published in Best Health Magazine, The Globe and Mail, Sweat Equity, Grocery Business, Inside Fitness, Canadian Living, Elevate, HELLO, and ELLE Canada.
Dr. Sara’s approach to healthcare is not as easy as taking a pill. The “quick-fix” approach is not one she subscribes to. While there’s a pill for just about everything, rarely do prescription drugs stop the course of disease - they merely mask symptoms. Dr. Sara believes true health requires a commitment from both the doctor and the patient.
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