The one thing that I dislike about the winter (besides the bitter cold) is the lack of sunlight. I find myself in a funk lately. I'm more tired than usual, moody and craving carbs. (And no, I'm not pregnant.) When I got off of work the other day it was nothing but sunshine. I stopped at the grocery store to get a few items and when I came out, it was officially night time. Are you serious? That's all the sun I get: 30- 45 minutes?
That's when I remember SAD, seasonal affective disorder. It's pretty much what we call the winter blues because we suffer from a lack of sunlight and our days are shorter. I love the sun. It makes me more active which typically puts me in a better mood. The sun also provides vitamin d, which is essential for strong teeth and bones, enhances the absorption of other vitamins, and it helps in skin metabolism and growth.
The two most common ways to absorb vitamin d are through foods and/or supplements and sun exposure. Foods that are good sources for vitamin d are: milk, cold liver oil, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, egg yolks, beef liver and fortified cereals. Looking at that list makes me realize why a lot of people prefer supplements.
Though sunlight exposure is the best way to absorb vitamin d, you have to be very careful because too much sun (on unprotected skin) can lead to premature aging and the all too common skin cancer. I have read that just five to ten minutes of "summer" sun on unprotected skin like your hands, arms or back is enough to produce the needed amount of daily vitamin d. Some people choose to do light therapy during those fall and winter months where there is less sun.
So how do you know when you might be vitamin d deficient? The best way is through a blood test, but here are a few signs that the test may be necessary:
- tooth decay
- lack of energy
- trouble sleeping or insomnia
- nervousness
- diarrhoea
I guess I'll have to sit under a couple of lamps and drink milk until I can get my daily dose of sunshine.
"We cater to the skin and the beauty within."
