Our fast paced, air conditioned sit on our butt society has produced an epidemic of vitamin D deficiencies. Any of these symptoms ring a bell? Low or no energy, weakened immunity, fatigue, depression, muscle pain or weak bones? If so, you may be a victim.
Here are 4 possible causes for Vitamin D deficiency.
- You’re kept in the dark like a mushroom – The body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, so you may be at risk of deficiency if you are indoors a lot, live in the northern hemisphere or you spend a lot of time covered up.
- You have dark skin – Melanin (pigment) reduces the skin's ability to make vitamin D.
- Your gut (digestive tract) can’t absorb vitamin D – Medical condition like: Celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and Chrohns disease, affect your digestive tracts ability to absorb vitamin D from the food you eat.
- Your kidneys can’t convert vitamin D to its active form – The older we get the less our kidneys are able to convert vitamin D to its active usable form.
If you think any of these situations apply to you can improve your vitamin D levels without choking down a hoarse pill by following these 3 easy steps.
- Get out in the Sun! – Limited, unprotected sun exposure in the early morning and late afternoon (no more than 15 minutes for light-skinned individuals, 40 minutes for darker skin) — is in my opinion the best way to up your vitamin D.
- Eat Whole and Natural foods – Nutrient-dense, fatty fish like: sardines, mackerel and herring are good sources of vitamin D. Egg yolks from free range hens, grass fed organ meats (like liver), cheese, butter, (grass fed and raw is best) and oysters are also good natural sources of D.
- Drink Milk – My preference of course is “Real Milk”, controversial that it may be. However, if you believe in pasteurization try organic hormone free milk. Please don’t buy the regular stuff! Your body not only has a hard time absorbing the nutrients because of the lack of the lactase enzyme, but regular milk is usually laden with hormones, pesticides and other crap.
So spread the word. Tell your friends and family to let the sun shine in, eat real food and drink their milk.