Vitamin D- Are you getting enough?

Growing up in India meant being out everyday in intense sun, eating grass-fed meat, and living the relatively relaxed life of a child. I realize now how it must have been fantastic for my Vitamin D levels as all three of those things are important contributors to our Vitamin D stocks.

Then I moved to the Pacific Northwest. I also slowly turned vegetarian.

A few years later, I started to feel this lack of vitality, especially in the wintertime. I got tipped off on Vitamin D and started supplementing it. Mere days after, I felt a distinct difference in mood and energy. I am not big on supplements and always prefer to use my food as medicine but I do swear by this one (especially in Vancouver), for not just the winter but all year round.

 A few years later, I started to feel this lack of vitality, especially in the wintertime. I got tipped off on Vitamin D and started supplementing it. Mere days after, I felt a distinct difference in mood and energy. I am not big on supplements and always prefer to use my food as medicine but I do swear by this one (especially in Vancouver), for not just the winter but all year round.

Here is what you need to know about Vitamin D.

• Vitamin D is most known for its role in regulating calcium and other minerals in the body. When Vitamin D levels are low, calcium absorption gets compromised and leads to issues in the bones, teeth, and neuromuscular system. Recently it has been linked to many more serious diseases.
• ​The main source of this Vitamin has long been acknowledged as sunlight (adequate sun exposure is a lot more sun than any of us think, though). However, we can also get it from animal fats; specifically animals exposed to sun or that eat a lot of plankton.
• It is particularly important for pregnant women as it helps build bones and lungs in babies.
• These days, Vitamin D deficiencies are rampant- especially in this part of the world. This is because:

1. It's is virtually impossible to get the kind of sun exposure that is needed to keep our levels up in these Northern latitudes.
2. Our diets (specially vegetarian ones) may also be lacking it if we are not eating the few Vit D rich foods out there
3. Our liver and kidneys are often loaded with environmental toxins that prevent the proper transformation of its precursors into Vitamin D. Stressful lifestyle can cause the same effect by affecting the alkalinity of the body.

What do we do about this?

​Ayurveda recommends is a multi level approach. Just supplementing is not enough.
​

• Let's cleanse the body of toxins to promote liver and kidney function.
• Let's support the system by eating wholesome meals in the right quantity at the right time and maintaining a low-stress lifestyle
• Let's eat Vitamin D rich foods like fresh organic, grass-fed dairy. If you are open to it, you can also benefit from eating fatty fish and fish liver oil (Cod liver oil anyone?)
• Simultaneously we can supplement with a good quality Vitamin D. I use oral drops of Liquid Vitamin D3 by AOR. Another way to take supplements is transdermally (through the skin). It's a great method for bypassing the liver altogether! I had the pleasure of studying from Ayurvedic physician called Vaidya Mishra who has created a wonderful line of transdermal supplements. Read about him here.

For information on hot topics like these, I am ever-grateful to The Green Mama (www.thegreenmama.com). She is an expert on green parenting; drawing from modern science and grandma traditions. She has published this brilliant book that every mama should own. Go to her website and ask her anything! I asked her about pregnancy and Vitamin D.

And as always, I am here to answer questions.