We're all getting grouchy and have less energy and I know it's from the lack of vitamin D, since whenever we can get out sledding on a sunny day, we feel great.
What are the vitamin D-rich foods that your families eat or the supplements you take during these long, cold, gloomy Minnesota winters?
We always have Vitamin-D and calcium fortified orange/grapefruit juice at breakfast. You could also try Vitamin-D fortified milk.
You can find a thousand lists of foods rich in Vitamin D by doing a simple Google search.
But, I'd recommend seeing if your insurance covers a visit to a dietician (your local hospital will have at least one if not many on staff). The nutritional value of many foods will be compromised by how you prepare them. They can also verify how much you need and how much can be absorbed at one time.
For example: your body can only absorb 500mg of calcium at a time, so products with ###-###-#### are overkill, and you're spending money that's going straight to waste.
Hi N.! I am right with you on the Minnesota winters!
Well, I certainly don't think you should go the tanning route. I know that people use it for a mood booster, but skin cancer is very real.
You won't get enough vit. D from foods, because our soil is so depleted that the foods that used to be sufficient in vitamins are extremely lacking. I do NOT recommend going to a dietician. We have had several dieticians due to both of my kids having diabetes and the stuff they have recommended that they eat is absolute garbage. Plus, they teach the food pyramid and think that ice cream is a valid source of calcium. It boggles the mind!
We use a vitamin D3 drop from Biotics Research Corporation called BioD Mulsion. My husband and I use the Bio-D-mulsion Forte which has 2,000 IU's per drop. Standard dose for an adult is 5,000 IU's per day.....more if you are sick.
For the kids we use regular (as in, not the forte) Bio-D-mulsion which has 400 IU's per drop and the dosage is 1 drop per day and it's okay to give another drop if your child is sick.
Research shows that we are more lacking in vitamin D than previously thought. The supplement that I mentioned is paired with sesame oil for optimal absorbtion. Not only does vitamin D3 improve moods but it is essential for a healthy immune system.
You can buy Bio-D-mulsion at www.spinelife.com and, I am assuming that other vitamin websites carry it. I buy it from my local chiropractor. You can also find good vitamin D3 supplements at www.vitacost.com . I know Carlson's carrys a kids version that is excellent.
I can't wait for Spring! :)
Go to your local health food store and see what they suggest for you. They can either tell you what foods are high in Vitamin D or they can give you a healthy supplement of it.
There are these Calcium and Vitamin D chocolates that I find at my local health food store. Delicious!
Something you may want to consider is a family tanning session. I'm not sure how old your kids are, but it might be nice for them.
Even if you don't have sun, you still absorb a good bit of Vit D by being outside. Sitting inside by a sunny window does not give you nearly as much vit D as being outside on an overcast day. So going outside will help immensely. My mom is very senstive to the winter blahs, and she has a lamp that is specifically for this purpose. It is a special lamp that is supposed to mimic the sun. I don't know where she bought it or anything, but you could google it and see what you come up with. She sits for about 15 minutes every day reading under it and it helps a lot she says.
