Cortisol, the Stress Hormone
Daylight savings time – time to tune into your Vitamin D levels
Vitamin D is a nutrient your body needs for building and maintaining healthy bones and it does this by helping your body absorb calcium. In addition, it plays a role in your nervous, muscle, and immune systems. Vitamin D isn’t naturally found in many foods, but your body does make it when direct sunlight converts a chemical in your skin into an active form of the vitamin. The amount of vitamin D your skin makes depends on the time of day, the season, and latitude, which means depending on where you live, during the winter months your vitamin D production decreases substantially. On average, during the summer months (after “Spring forward”) the United States see 14-18 hours of daylight, and during the winter months (after “Fall back”) the United States see 6-8 hours of daylight.
With the decreasing hours of daylight comes the decreasing levels of vitamin D. These low levels of vitamin D can pose health risks such as a weakened immune system. This is because vitamin D supports immune health, which helps you ward off viruses and bacteria that cause illness. Not surprising, the cold and flu season occurs during the winter months when the hours of daylight are limited. Now that we’re starting our transition into shorter days, it is imperative to know what your vitamin D levels are so you can address a deficiency if need be.
Daylight Savings traditionally marks the start of winter with one less hour of sun at the end of the day. While it can be emotionally hard to lose that end-of-day sunshine, did you know that the darker winter season can be hazardous to your bones? That’s because if we aren’t careful, it can create a double whammy of less sun and exercise. 50% of the world’s population suffers from insufficient vitamin D and the reduction in outdoor activities in the winter has been associated with these low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D performs the important functions of regulation and absorption of phosphorus and calcium. As a result of this function, your body is able to strengthen bone density. If you aren’t getting enough vitamin D, your bones become weak, which could lead to pain and in some instances, this pain can turn chronic. Low bone mineral density puts individuals at an increased risk of fractures and skeletal deformities.
Although vitamin D plays a critical role in bone and immune health, it also helps prevent cancer and protect the body against chronic conditions like depression, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and multiple sclerosis. With that said, addressing a vitamin D deficiency is worthwhile and can have lasting benefits for your health. This can be done using our At-Home Vitamin D self-collection kit. With our kit, you collect your own lab sample anytime, anywhere with an easy-to-use device that’s shipped directly to you. When your sample is returned is it processed in our very own laboratory, and we return your results to you promptly through your personal dashboard. Now more than ever, is the perfect time to purchase our vitamin D kit as we enter these dark, gloomy, winter months!
Sources: Vitamin D Deficiency: 6 Causes, Common Symptoms & Health Risks (webmd.com) Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms, Treatments, and Causes (healthline.com) Daylight Savings: Time to Dial Up Your Vitamin D Levels (rushortho.com)
