Also known as “Why Running Away to a Beach in the Winter is Actually a Good Idea…”
Yes, it is indeed winter for most of us right now, regardless of what the thermometer says.
Are you feeling it yet?
Are you itching for spring to show up so that you can:
1. finally get out of those itchy wool sweaters, coats, hats, scarves and gloves
2. put away the snow shovels or snow blowers
3. get some much needed sunshine on some very pale body parts
The winter does more than add on extra and usually heavy clothing. We also have a lot of the holidays over the winter with the associated eating, drinking and overall merry-making.
We go to parties; we give gifts. We get nervous over those parties and those gifts.
We stress ourselves out so much over the winter.
We usually keep ourselves so busy that by the time we’re finished, it hits us that we still won’t see the sun for another 2 whole months!
Sun means summertime. Summertime means vacations and relaxing.
What are we supposed to do now?
The good news is that just because you won’t *really* see the sun for a bit longer, you can get all the benefits of getting some sun without having to get on an airplane.
This is the time of year when we are the most susceptible to a Vitamin D deficiency.
Dermatologist agree that getting too much sun is not a healthy way of living, but it can also be argued that getting some sun, 5-15 minutes day, several days a week, is beneficial for most of us to get our adequate dose of Vitamin D.
Why Vitamin D?
The most important role of vitamin D is to preserve normal blood levels of the minerals Calcium and Phosphorus. With assisting minerals such as Phosphorus, Boron, Magnesium and Zinc, vitamin D aids in the absorption of Calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle or soft and more breakable.
So where can I get my Vitamin D?
Fortified foods represent the major dietary sources of vitamin D, as very few foods naturally contain significant amounts of vitamin D.
Natural sources of vitamin D include:
-fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil
-fatty fish species, such as catfish, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, eel
-mushrooms are one of a few natural sources of vitamin D for vegans if harvested properly
-one whole egg
There are plenty of ways to protect yourself from a vitamin D deficiency.
My favorite way?
Easy!
A sunny vacation right in the middle of the winter!
