We are finally wrapping up that time of year, I call it the winter funk. The days seem shorter, the cold air feels brutal, and the sun rarely makes an appearance. Motivation is most likely lacking in all aspects of life: work, relationships, fitness, health, nutrition….but why? Research suggests that the lack of Vitamin D in the winter months may be the culprit.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause bone and joint problems because sufficient levels are crucial for calcium absorption in your intestines. Without adequate vitamin D, your body cannot absorb calcium, and therefore your bones and joints will suffer. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to immune dysfunction, depression, and insomnia... sounds like the winter funk to me. What foods provide vitamin D? *Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel are among the best sources. *Beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks provide small amounts. *Mushrooms provide some vitamin D. In some mushrooms that are newly available in stores, the vitamin D content is being boosted by exposing these mushrooms to ultraviolet light. *Almost all of the U.S. milk supply is fortified with 400 IU of vitamin D per quart. But foods made from milk, like cheese and ice cream, are usually not fortified. *Vitamin D is added to many breakfast cereals and to some brands of orange juice, yogurt, margarine, and soy beverages; check the labels.
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Emily Witzel
Fitness Trainer Archives
February 2016
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