How to get your vitamin D this winter
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Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios
If these dreary gray days have you feeling down, we've got good news: A sunny sky is in the forecast tomorrow for the first time in a month.
Why it matters: Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, may be linked to vitamin D deficiency.
- You might think getting outside will give you the boosts needed to get through the winter, but it's not that simple.
How it works: Our bodies produce vitamin D following exposure to the sun's ultraviolet-B rays.
- But this time of year, the sun is too low in the sky for our skin to even synthesize the sunshine vitamin in Ohio, regardless of cloud coverage.
Be smart: That means you'll need to obtain it from other sources, such as food (fatty fish, mushrooms and dairy) or daily supplements (800 to 1,000 international units is typically recommended).
The big picture: Nearly half of Americans — regardless of age, race and home state — are deficient in vitamin D, which also keeps our bones, teeth and immune systems strong, Axios' Erica Pandey reports.
- Several studies have observed low levels in pneumonia and COVID patients and new research continues to reinforce the vitamin's benefits.
Pro tip: The only way to find out if you're deficient is to get a blood test from your doctor.
The intrigue: A software developer created a website that calculates the optimal conditions for vitamin D absorption in a city, based on the sun's position.
- In Columbus, the sun won't reach the necessary angle for vitamin D synthesis until Jan. 20 and conditions will remain poor until spring.
What's next: After the winter solstice on Dec. 21, every day gets a tiny bit more daylight.
The bottom line: While soaking up the sun on a day like tomorrow may alleviate the winter blues, it's not a cure-all for staying healthy and thriving this winter.