Daylight Savings and Vitamin D

Daylight savings time is upon us! Though it may be slightly inconvenient to have to change clocks in your house, it may be worth it for an extra hour of sleep! Scientists say that adding an extra hour of sleep is very beneficial for your body and mind. Sleep is central to wellbeing and good health, and when we don’t get enough of it, we cannot function at an optimal level. Though we may miss that extra hour of sunlight, we can  use this as an opportunity to go to sleep earlier. Many can attest that when it is darker earlier, they feel sleepy sooner in the evening. And when you go to bed earlier, you wake up early as well. It has been medically proven that going to sleep earlier and waking up early is good for your health. Benjamin Franklin was really on to something hundreds of years ago when he coined the phrase “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

Cold weather welcomes the holiday season as well as less sunshine. Getting enough sunlight is very important for your health and well being. Our bodies make Vitamin D when exposed to the sun, which is why it is called the “sunshine vitamin”. Vitamin D absorbs calcium and helps you maintain strong bones. It also contributes to the health of your muscles, nerves, and immune system. If you don’t get enough vitamin D, you may be at risk for developing rickets, osteoporosis and other bone disorders, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Over 41 percent of U.S. adults don’t get enough vitamin D. Older adults, people with dark skin, and those who are obese are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is also important for fighting off infections and it plays an important role in your gut microbiome. 

There are many ways to ensure that you receive enough Vitamin D, such as by making sure to get outside at least 20 minutes a day – don’t forget to wear sunscreen no matter the weather! Eating Vitamin D rich foods is also a great way to up your 600 IU of Vitamin D daily intake. Foods like pork, mushrooms, fatty fish (tuna, mackerel, oysters, shrimp, sardines), cheese, and eggs yolks are naturally rich in vitamin D. You can also find many vitamin D-enriched options at the grocery store, such as cereals, soy milk, yogurt, and orange juice. In addition, you can also take Vitamin D supplements that are widely available.