Vitamin D has received a lot of attention lately, thanks to its powerful immune support properties but it does so much more for our overall health!
Here I’m sharing the vitamin D facts you need to know about, plus natural ways to give your body a boost of this important vitamin:
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D, aka the sunshine vitamin, comes in two different forms (D2 & D3) and has both steroid and hormone activity in the body. It plays a role in helping regulate the functions of over 200 different genes. Not only that, but vitamin D is an essential vitamin for both growth and development.
Why Vitamin D is So Important
In addition to its important role in growth, development, and regulating genes, here is a list of reasons why we need to get enough vitamin D.
Vitamin D plays a role in:
- Supporting strong bones.
- Supporting the immune system
- Communicating messages from the brain to other parts of the body.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to:
- Depression
- Osteoporosis
- Chronic fatigue
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune disease
Some research even supports that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of cancer.
The bottom line is that it’s crucial that we are getting enough.
Natural Ways to Get More of the Sunshine Vitamin
We know that vitamin D plays a crucial role in supporting overall health, but how do we make sure that we are getting enough?
While there are supplement options available, there are other natural options to support our vitamin D levels as well.
Here are some simple ways to get your daily dose of Vitamin D:
- Get out in the sunshine each day! Even better, try bringing your meditation outside, going for a walk, or doing yoga to soak up that vitamin D while also doing something really good for your mind and body. I know we don't get a lot of sunshine but on those days that we do, get outside!
Always speak with your health care provider if you have reasons that you shouldn’t be out in the sun to discuss other ways to support vitamin D levels.
- Enjoy vitamin D rich foods like wild-caught fatty fish, eggs, beef liver (you can fry this up with some coconut oil and onion if you don’t love the taste)
Getting Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D For Better Health
Whether you already know that your vitamin D levels may be low or you haven’t been getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine as much as usual, getting enough vitamin D may be the missing link to helping you feel your best. With all the roles it plays in the body, and the risks that come with not getting enough, optimising our vitamin D levels is a huge part of supporting better health.
So, bring your lunch outside or just get outside for a brisk walk before your day gets started to soak up this sunshine vitamin — it may even boost your mood to help you tackle your busy day!
Even if there's not much sunshine, getting outside can and will make you feel better :-)
