Why You Need to Know Your Vitamin D Level

February 26, 2018

Vitamin D -- most of us have heard of it, but we don't realize how vital Vitamin D is for bone health, hormone regulation, memory, stabilizing blood sugar and, most importantly, bolstering your immune system. In fact, one of the reasons that the flu is so rampant in the winter months is because Vitamin D levels are lower in the winter (1).

We get Vitamin D from the sun (and, to a much lesser extent, from our food -- especially fish). During the winter, though, the sun isn't strong enough to keep our Vitamin D levels where they should be. Low Vitamin D is one of the reasons that the phrase "cold and flu season" even exists! But even in the summer, it is difficult for most of us to get our Vitamin D levels where they need to be because we spend most of our time indoors, working at those pesky jobs of ours.

But this doesn't mean that all is lost. You can find out what your Vitamin D level is quite easily -- either by asking your doctor to order the test for you, or by testing it yourself from the comfort of your own home for $58 (I can order these for you too, and save you a few bucks).

You want your Vitamin D to be between 40 and 60 ng/ml. If it is below that, Vitamin D3 supplements are affordable and easy to obtain (make sure to ONLY buy a Vitamin D supplement that also contains Vitamin K2 to assure maximum absorption and efficacy).

Even better than supplementing though, is to grant yourself 10-15 minutes in the sun without sunblock, as often as you can (sunblock blocks the absorption of Vitamin D so it is important to do without for those few minutes -- if you burn easily, stick to the shorter end of the spectrum). I realize this is difficult for most, but think of it as a necessity -- a quick sunbathing session is essential for good health!