The Sunshine Vitamin-> D

I Woke up to grey weather this morning after a weekend of blue skies...and somehow I am thrilled about it!! am guilty of enjoying a rainy period that just seems to force the city to slow down...and also means snow in the mountains :) As much as I do love the grey skies, it also means less sunlight exposure- which means it's important to keep our body happy with the vitamins it needs in the winter. Here in Canada that's Vitamin D!

The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D is considered the sunshine vitamin as it needs sunlight to help complete its process and function for our bodies. As we don't experience much sun in the Great White North, it's important to supplement through the winter! I can say this is the one vitamin I am strict about taking daily and I do 'encourage' my friends to take it as well. This vitamin is fat soluble and so it's helpful to take alongside fatty food. I most often take mine with my smoothie or morning drink that I put either coconut oil or ghee into.

Why Vitamin D supplementation?

Though I love to focus on food based nutrition, Vitamin D is a hard vitamin to get in just food alone. This is why supplementing daily throughout the year is so important.

The functions of Vitamin D make up a very long list, from calcium absorption to heart function and nervous system health, it is so important we are getting enough of this gem of a vitamin. It's also very easy to take, I personally prefer taking it in drops, they're affordable and quick and easy to travel with.

Vitamin D3 is an animal-derived form (fyi for all those veg/vegans out there), but is also considered the easiest for our body to absorb. I buy an organic brand that is 1000 IUD per drop. This New Roots Herbal is a great choice it's clean, budget friendly and available in most health food stores. Alongside taking a supplement, vitamin D can be found in small amounts in eggs, fatty fish as well as a few vegetables such as mushrooms which contain Vitamin D2. But remember this comes in trace amounts in food and so supplementation is the most effective way to get this vitamin!

As always be sure to check with your healthcare provider as every body is different!