Protect your energy and bones. Check your Vitamin D status. Are you getting enough?
What’s the deal with the D? Vitamin D that is! Vitamin D is a special nutrient because it functions as a vitamin but also as a hormone which is especially important for women’s health including energy metabolism and bone health.
Have you been feeling fatigued lately or just not yourself? Maybe that pep in your step is slower than before? Vitamin D is involved in the body’s energy metabolism and often Vitamin D deficiency can manifest itself by sucking all your energy and affecting your performance. So if you have been feeling fatigued lately or unable to complete your work out the way you used to, consider requesting a Vitamin D level check from your primary care physician.
I mentioned how important Vitamin D is for bone’s health so let’s talk about that. Vitamin D acts to maintain appropriate calcium levels in the body and prevents calcium from being taken from bones. This is significant because women are at a greater risk for the development of osteoporosis than men. In combination with adequate calcium, let’s protect our bones ladies!
You may be thinking, are there any natural sources of Vitamin D? Look up in the sky, you’ll see the best source…the sun. Sun exposure a few times per week for as little as 15 minutes can be helpful to prevent deficiency. Next time you want to scroll on your phone during a work break, consider walking outside instead. There are minimal food sources of Vitamin D, mostly from fortified foods such as milk, breakfast cereals, and some orange juice. Vitamin D is also found in fatty fish like tuna, salmon, mackerel, and trout, egg yolks, and cheese (1).
Vitamin D deficiency is more common than you think. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for Vitamin D is 600 IUs (international units) but in the case of deficiency, you may consider a supplement of at least 1000 IUs or more (1). Double check your doctor or registered dietitian about what dosage is appropriate for you. Make sure that you are getting enough Vitamin D through a combination of sun exposure, food intake, and possibly supplements if needed.
