Don’t Skimp on your Vitamin D!

42% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient according to HealthMatch. It's not that surprising when you think about the average American's lifestyle. Most of us work in offices, sitting at desks in front of computers. In the winter months, it's dark by the time we get home and in the summer months, maybe we're just too tired to get outside for 30-60 minutes. But the Sunshine vitamin is critical for overall health. It supports strong bones, metabolism, hormonal health, immune function and may even help fight cancer.

All good reasons to make sure you get plenty of sunshine, and if you can't, take a Vitamin D supplement. I find that during the winter I need a supplement. I'm a big fan of Country Life. I'm not affiliated with Country Life or any other brand so do your own research and find out what works best for you. Vitamin D is fat-soluble so it's best to take it with a healthy fat like some yogurt or avocado. Most Vitamin D supplements contain a lot of Vitamin D - like 500% of your Daily Value. Because of this, you don't actually need to take a Vitamin D supplement every day. I try to take mine intuitively and listen to my body. Additionally, Vitamin D works best when you have adequate Vitamin K stores. If you eat eggs and leafy green veggies, you're probably ok with Vitamin K unless a doctor has told you yours is low. The symptoms of low Vitamin K involve a lot of bleeding so you'd probably know!

The last few days in Dallas have been warm and sunny. I've made an effort to get outside for 30-60 minutes and I've noticed a difference in my mood and energy levels. Supplements are good but nothing beats the original! In a few months we'll all be experiencing some better weather and hopefully, healthier lives!