Tips to Boost Your Vitamin D Levels This Fall & Winter

As fall trudges on and we're getting closer to winter, temperatures, and the sun, are going down fast. Without the same intensity and hours of sunlight we had in the summer, it's easy to not get enough vitamin D.

Over 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency, while 50% of the population has vitamin D insufficiency—meaning they still don't get the recommended amount.

Also known as the "sunshine vitamin", vitamin D is vital for our health and well-being. This is especially true in the fall and winter months when sunlight becomes less and less common.

Now as we enter the holiday season, it's important to start thinking about how we can keep our vitamin D levels up.

Even without strong sunlight, there are many ways to incorporate more vitamin D into your routine. Check out these tips to boost your vitamin D levels and feel your best, even through the winter.

Why Vitamin D Matters

Before getting into how to obtain more vitamin D, let's look at why the nutrient matters. This vitamin is super important when it comes to our health.

Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium and phosphorus—both essential for bone and muscle health. Vitamin D is known to support our bones and is necessary for proper bone growth.

Other roles of vitamin D in the body include:

• Reducing inflammation
• Helping with cell growth
• Supporting immune function
• Supporting glucose metabolism

So, getting sufficient vitamin D is important for many of our body's functions. Now, let's see how we can get those levels up as we head into winter.

Tips for Boosting Your Vitamin D Intake

1. Sunlight

When UV rays from the sun hit our skin, one of the things they do is trigger the production of vitamin D. Even in fall and winter, you can still get some sunlight.

The best way to get sun is to spend time outside. In the colder seasons, it is more difficult to get proper amounts of vitamin D from the sun, as we are covered by more clothing. But even a short walk or rest in the sunlight can be helpful.

The amount of sun you'll need depends on several factors like your location/latitude, skin pigment, age, and the time of day you go out. In the colder months, for many areas in Canada, your best bet is to go outside at noon, when the sun is the strongest.

Because our bodies are mostly covered when it's cold, even when going out at noon, in some areas, it may take a couple of hours to get sufficient vitamin D levels from the sun. For this reason, it's best to have a few different strategies for obtaining vitamin D this time of year.

2. Diet

Aside from sunlight, an excellent way to obtain vitamin D is through diet. Some foods are naturally rich in the nutrient or fortified with it. You'll find high levels of natural vitamin D in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna, and fish liver oils. Egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver will also provide a good amount.

For vegetarians or those who prefer plant-based diets, you can find some vitamin D in certain mushrooms. Many dairy products, plant milk, and cereals are also fortified with it.

3. Supplementation

If you don't think you can get enough vitamin D through diet, supplementation is an easy solution. You can find Vitamin D3 supplements just about anywhere.

Supplements are easy to take and although they don't work exactly like getting natural vitamin D from sunlight or diet, they can be a convenient solution to maintain good levels of the nutrient throughout the year.

However, you should talk to a healthcare professional before supplementing to determine the right dose for you.