What's So Great About That Sun Anyway

Whelp, we made it through the big snowstorm. Yes, it has been super frigid, but at least the sun has been out most days. Lord knows we need all the vitamin D we can get this time of year. Why is D so important?  Mainly, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system, as well as bone health. The recommended intake is 600-800 IUs (international units) per day. Sunlight brings us a lot of D without us even trying, but in the winter, we do not get enough of what we need.

It is easy to take a daily supplement. Admittedly, I take a capsule daily, but there are also many different foods that you can incorporate into your diet to help maintain healthy vitamin D levels. If you are big into eating beef livers, then you are on the right path. For the rest of us, fortified dairy products and juices are easy options. Personally, I love to incorporate eggs and fish, which both contain high amounts of IUs. Tuna, salmon, sardines, herrings, and cod liver oil are all great options! As with everything in life, too much of a good thing can be bad. Taking more than 4,000 IUs daily is inadvisable, as it can lead to toxicity. So don't go too crazy!