Winter is approaching which means it is time to start thinking about supplementing with Vitamin D.
should i take a vitamin d supplement in the winter?
Of course, getting all your vitamins and minerals through food is ideal, however vitamin D is the exception! I strongly recommend everyone should supplement with vitamin D this winter for the following 3 reasons!
reasons to take vitamin d
1. Vitamin D Is Minimal In Food
Vitamin D is not available in food in the required daily amounts to maintain good health. As an adult, you need 600-1,000 IU of vitamin D per day. A 100 mg serving of tuna or salmon only contains 200 IU. Certain foods like cereals, milk and orange juice are fortified with extra vitamin D, however the amounts are still minimal. And we have all heard of cod liver oil, it contains vitamin D but doesn’t have the most pleasant taste. Incorporating these foods into your diet will prevent a Vitamin D deficiency, but may not be enough for optimal health.
2. Not Enough Exposure To The Sun
Do you live in North America? Then you live far, far away from the equator and your amount of exposure to the sun in the winter is limited. Are you familiar with waking up and going to work before the sun rises? And then leaving work and it is already dark outside? Even if you go outside on your lunch break, you will be all bundled up due to the frigid weather that the only part of your face exposed to the sun will be your face! Sunlight stimulates your skin to produce vitamin D, and limited exposure to the sun during the winter months can easily lead to a vitamin D deficiency.
3. Vitamin D Helps Certain Health Conditions
Do you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, depression, anxiety, frequent colds and flus, autoimmune conditions, eczema, psoriasis, asthma or allergies? Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to these conditions and people who have them often need higher therapeutic amounts of vitamin D to help improve their condition.
Children require lower doses of vitamin D, typically between 400-600 IU per day. It is best to discuss supplementation with any vitamin with your child’s primary health care provider to determine the dose that is right for them.
As always, taking a new vitamin or mineral supplement should be discussed with your primary health care provider before starting to make sure it is right for your individual situation and to determine what amount is best for you.
Have a happy winter season!
Dr. Ellen Simone, Naturopath
I faithfully take my vitamin D every morning
I agree entirely. Living in the northern hemisphere certainly doesn’t help our production of Vit D and neither does continuous use of sun screen. It’s been discovered in Australia apparently that due to excessive use of sun screen a high percentage of the population is suffering from Vit D deficiency, who’d have thought that?
I just started taking Vitamin D and hope it helps!
I def need to go buy some Vitamin d. thanks
I have tried for several winters but never seem to be able to get in the habit of taking pills every day! I will try again now as the bottles are just sitting in the cupboard!
informative post I try to take extra supplements too
The fact that Vitamin D has been linked to eczema, psoriasis, asthma or allergies, and my husband and I suffer from the above, makes me want to go and buy Vitamin D supplement right now. This was very informative and I am so glad I stumbled across it!!!
Great comments everyone! One quick tip for remembering your vitamin D is to place it on the kitchen counter or your bedside table with a glass of water where you will see it everyday.
Also, some people find liquid vitamin D to be easier to take, especially if you are not a fan of swallowing pills.
I take 2,000 IU every day in the winter. Helps my ezcema!
We take vitamin D drops every single day!
Our entire family takes our vitamin D every day. It was even more important when we lived in Northern Manitoba–even less sunlight up there!
This is such a great reminder! I used to be really good about making sure we all got our vitamin D doses daily, but after our second child my routines kind of fell apart and I haven’t been doing this any more. Now that winter is here again we really need to start. Thank you!
I take 4,000 IU every day all year round for the last 5 years or so and I finally have it where it should be
We all take a daily supplement of Vitamin D!
I take vitamin D daily, it makes a difference for me.
We take vitamin D drops every day during the winter.
I take my vitamin D every morning.
Vitamin D is so good for you
We take vitamin D every single day!