Have you scheduled your time in the sun today?
There has been an abundance of mixed messages about exactly how much time we should be spending in the sun. We don’t want skin cancer, but we do need our vitamin D. For more reasons than we might have imagined.
For those of us who live in a seasonal climate, it’s not always easy to get any amount of sunshine on a cold fall or winter day. Impossible, actually, when it’s twenty degrees outside. And we readers are a cozy bunch. If it’s cold, we’re staying inside with a good book.
Given the wealth of recent notable studies on the necessity of sufficient vitamin D levels to support our immune systems, I thought I would share with you some of the research I’ve found.
Association of Vitamin D Status and Other Clinical Characteristics With COVID-19 Test Results
Vitamin D Status in Hospitalized Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection
COVID-19: Scientists raise the vitamin D alarm
So how do we know where we stand with our vitamin D levels? And how can we make sure it’s in the correct range?
You can ask your primary care provider to do a Vitamin D blood test. I use an at home testing kit by Everlywell that is very affordable and gives you results within a few days. I find this is an easy way to monitor my D levels every 2-3 months. It is important to know your level before supplementing and also important to regularly monitor your level so that you can adjust supplementation as needed.
If you’re interested in learning more about Vitamin D and what others are doing to address deficiencies, here’s a link to a very good Facebook group on the subject. Vitamin D Wellness Group
I use this particular supplement as it also includes the recommended K2 along with the D3.
Let the sun shine in.