WORST States for Vitamin D (Do YOU Need a Boost?)
I often tell you to spend time in the sun to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D.
But there’s a catch…
Did you know that you could spend all day, every day outdoors… and still not get enough vitamin D?
Where you live—and the time of year—can have a dramatic impact on how much vitamin D you’re able to get from the sun.
Here’s what you need to know.
In the right circumstances, just 15 minutes a day in the sun supplies your body with all the D it needs.
But not if you live ABOVE the 37th parallel.
This is a line that basically divides the USA in half. It goes from just under San Francisco, California, to about Richmond, Virginia.
And if you live above this line, you’re at a much greater risk of a D deficiency.
That’s because the winters tend to be too cold to spend much time outdoors or to expose much of your skin to direct sunlight.
In addition, the sun’s UVB rays aren’t strong enough during the winter to cause your body to produce as much vitamin D.
I recommend having your blood levels tested to determine where you stand.
Then, during the winter, consider giving your body an extra boost by eating more of the few foods that contain vitamin D, including…
- fatty fish,
- egg yolks,
- and mushrooms.
You could also try a trick I mentioned a few weeks ago: Put your mushrooms out in the sun before you eat them. This can dramatically increase their vitamin D content.
Last but not least, consider a vitamin D supplement if your levels are still not optimal.
P.S. 5 VITAL reasons to get MORE vitamin D.
SOURCE:
Wacker M, et.al, “Sunlight and Vitamin D: A global perspective for health.” Dermatoendocrinol. 2013 Jan 1;5(1):51-108. doi: 10.4161/derm.24494. PMID: 24494042; PMCID: PMC3897598.
