Your Vitamin D Winter Guide

Seeing Michigan during her winter months is a worthy spot to pin into any travel plans. LIVING in Michigan during her winter months is enough to make you pack up and not return until April. While it would be nice to vacation whenever temperatures reach below 40, we must reside where the air hurts our faces.

It's no secret to Michiganders that vitamin D levels should be closely monitored in the winter and supplements should be incorporated to increase lowering levels; However, do we know why and how important maintaining balanced vitamin D really is? Unbalanced and deficient vitamin D can affect children, teens and adults by causing soreness or muscle pain as well as weakness in the bones, fatigue and more. A lack of this crucial vitamin can also have an emotional toll on an individual's mental health and in more serious cases can lead to depressive symptoms, irritability, anxiety and even a loss of interest in daily life. To put it more simply, much like the flowers and plants, we wilt a wee bit.

Fear not! As mentioned before, supplements among other things can help keep us from wilting away this winter. Vitamin D rich foods and magnesium supplements are some of the easiest ways to increase intake and activate vitamin D in the body. A mid day walk is not only good for staying active but also for sun exposure and can go a long way. Whenever the weather permits, try spending 5-10 minutes at a time outside, aiming sun exposure to target the face and arms. You can do this as many times a day during peak sun exposure hours as you feel necessary.

Avoiding myths this winter could save you money and your skin (literally!)

Don't waste your time going to tanning salons. Bulbs used in tanning vessels emit mostly UVA rays causing deeply penetrating damage to the skin while also not receiving the UVB rays needed to activate your vitamin D.

You definitely can over-do vitamin D intake! Don't guess when it comes to your vitamin D levels, visit your doctor and check before meal planning, buying supplements and altering your schedule. Having tests done can also help you gauge supplement intake and how much of a magnesium and vitamin D rich diet you should have for yourself.

We almost forget how much of us changes with the earth and its seasons. We adjust, shift and change with the weather. So, be sure you're making time to do just that. Remember we always bloom again and the days will soon only get brighter!