Have you had your Vitamin D levels checked lately? If you live anywhere North of Carolina, this PSA is for you…a friendly reminder that it is time and here is why…
As an RD, my mantra is usually a food first approach towards optimizing nutritional status or addressing deficiencies. But in the case of Vitamin D, research shows it is almost impossible to take in enough D3 to meet our needs. Over 1 billion people are estimated to be walking around deficient in Vitamin D as we speak (levels below <30 nmol/L).
Normally in summer months, those of us living at a latitude north of 37 degrees with daily sun exposure have the capacity to make sufficient D to meet our bodies’ needs. But in the Fall and Winter, due to the angle of the sun and reduction in amount of UVB rays we are exposed to, our bodies are unable to produce what we need naturally.
A growing body of research is associating suboptimal Vitamin D levels with higher risk for osteoporosis, depression, cognitive decline, cancer, diabetes, infections and autoimmune disease. Share this message with a friend who lives north of NC who could benefit from this important reminder on how to maintain their health as we head into winter. Click here to read more about Harvard School of Public Health’s recommendation on Vitamin D levels and supplementation.
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