We're all itching to get outside. Some want to start the garden, like me, some want to go fishing and some just want to spend some time outside after being cooped up all winter. Whether you enjoy the outdoors or not, there is a part of us that just wants to spend some time outside as the weather warms.
For some, though, the winter blues are more than just a desire to see the sun again. It's a debilitating, oppressive condition that drains life of any fun. It can be the first steps to more serious illnesses.
If we lived in an area where the sun was out and we could be out in it for more than just a scant few minutes a day, we would be better. But it is the lack of this vital sunlight that drives our systems to the blues.
We need the sun.
Our sun provides us with the light we need to produce Vitamin D. And it's not just any form of Vitamin D we produce, but the easiest and most bio-available form: D3. Each form of vitamin D is slightly different and those differences can make the difference between feeling the blues and loving life.
In the summer, we get plenty of sun and make plenty of Vitamin D3. Some of it is stored in our bodies for a couple of weeks, so we don't feel the blues right away. In the winter, we just do not have enough access to the sun. So, supplementation can be the difference between the blues and loving life.
Easy? Maybe not. Remember that bio-available type of Vitamin D mentioned above? Our bodies make this easily and efficiently. But it is neither easy, nor efficient to make it outside of our bodies. Vitamin D3 in supplement form is expensive.
That's why most manufacturers use Vitamin D2 in their formulas. And if you are using one of these, be aware of the risks. According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, D3 is 87% more potent than D2. D3 also remains in the body longer and is better utilized by cells. In a meta-analysis by the Cochrane Database, they found D3 is nearly can prolong your life, but D2 can actually shorten it.
Here's one more reason to get D3 and not D2. D3 is shown in multiple studies to help reduce heart disease by preventing arterial buildup. The most recent studies show D2 increases inflammation in the arteries and can contribute to arterial buildup.
Where do we find Vitamins D3 and D2? Everywhere it seems. Vitamin D3 is best produced in the skin and is also found in the flesh of animals and plants. Salmon has some of the highest sources of Vitamin D3 out there. Great news for heart health since salmon also has lots of omega-3 fatty acids. All fish and shell fish have some vitamin D3, as well as mushrooms, leafy greens and 100% whole grains.
Be wary of fortified products. Because Vitamin D3 is expensive, most manufacturers use Vitamin D2. As we stated earlier, that form is not the healthiest. Products with this form include, milk, orange juice and multi-vitamins.
Since Vitamin D3 is 87% more effective than Vitamin D2, it make better sense for our bodies to get better quality. Combining a small, high quality supplement and food, we may keep the winter blues from ever setting in!
Christina Major is the Naturopathic Doctor and Holistic Nutritionist of Crystal Holistic Health Consulting. Crystal Holistic Health helps people, especially women, who have Type II Diabetes, High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure lower their numbers, get off medication and increase their energy so they can save money, take back control of their lives and improve the health and happiness of their families. You can get a free report on health at http://www.crystalholistichealth.com/!
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