October brings beautiful fall colours, November colder weather and December the first snowfall. Fall and winter also come with something that many of us don’t look forward to: shorter days. Our daylight hours can decrease by 60% by the time winter is in full swing. This lack of daylight hours reduces our exposure to the sun and with it, reduces our intake of Vitamin D.
Why is Vitamin D important?
Vitamin D deficiency symptoms aren’t always easy to notice but can impact you in big ways. When your Vitamin D levels are low, you can experience difficulty thinking clearly, unexplained fatigue, muscle weakness and frequent bone fractures. Individuals who suffer from milk allergies, adhere to a strict vegan diet, or avoid the sun are at a higher risk for Vitamin D deficiency.
How can you keep your Vitamin D levels up?
Luckily, there are various ways to increase our sunshine vitamin during the darker months. Foods such as milk, fortified breakfast cereals, fortified yogurt, egg yolks, fortified orange juice and fatty fish like salmon and sardines are full of Vitamin D. Taking a multivitamin that contains vitamin D or going outside on sunny days for 15 minutes can also help.As the sun begins to set earlier every day, keep in mind the importance of Vitamin D and its effects on your health!
