From Sunlight to Supplement: the Importance of Vitamin D in Winter

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. Together with several other factors, it regulates calcium and phosphate metabolism and promotes their absorption in the intestine. Therefore, it significantly supports bone mineralization and influences various hormones. Two of these hormones are serotonin and dopamine, which affect our mood and mental resilience. Another consequence of insufficient Vitamin D is that it can make us feel exhausted when our levels are too low.

This is why it is imperative for us to get enough of it. If the body doesn't receive enough, many people experience the so-called "winter blues." The winter blues is a type of depressive episode in the dark months and is often caused by a low Vitamin D level.

However, not everyone always has a deficit of Vitamin D in winter. The body can store vitamin D; if you have spent enough time in the sun in spring and summer, you should have enough reserves.

But if your body doesn't have enough vitamin D, there is a problem: it is nearly impossible to gain enough vitamin D through food. Milk products like milk or yoghurt have vitamin D, just like high-fat fish like salmon, but not enough to give your body the needed amount. So, the easiest way to give your body enough vitamin D is to take it with supplements.

Talking to a doctor before you start taking the supplement is essential. You can do some blood tests to see if your vitamin D level is too low. After that, you can buy some, but it is also very important to do as your doctor says because it can be very harmful if you take too much of it.

So, the easiest way to gain enough vitamin D and come through winter without a depressive episode or tiredness is to use the summer to get enough of it through the sun. Your skin will naturally absorb the sun's UV rays and produce Vitamin D, so nothing stands in your way of enjoying the dark winter days without taking supplements.

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