How To Get Vitamin D In The Winter

I put on my pajamas, curl into bed with a good book, and set my alarm for tomorrow’s festivities. My to-do list is piling up, so a good night’s sleep is in order! “What time is it, anyway?” I ask myself…

Wait, this can’t be right. 6:42 p.m.?! Can it be? Do I need new glasses? I am not exaggerating here, this has happened to me so many times this winter I lost count. I know it’s daylight savings time and all, but gosh, how much daylight do you need to save mother nature?!

All joking aside, there’s a strong connection between daylight savings time and experiencing the “winter blues”, and it has to do with vitamin D. Getting enough vitamin D in the winter can be tough, especially when it’s so easy to lose track of how quickly daytime comes and goes! So, if you’re wondering how to get vitamin D in the winter, you’ve come to the right place! 

How Is Vitamin D In Winter Impacted? 

Let’s start with the basics. Vitamin D itself is made in our skin when we’re exposed to sunlight, and is also found in some fish, mushrooms, dairy products, and vitamins you can find at your local drug store (1). Vitamin D is essential for good health, so when the summer sun shines on through, getting enough vitamin D in your system isn’t usually a problem. 

The kicker? Winter is when we need vitamin D the most for helping us to fight infections, but is also the least available during these months. The sun goes down at what seems like 3 p.m. now, and getting your daily dose of sunshine becomes difficult. 

But don’t worry, there are ways to get vitamin D in the winter, and I’m here to share with you how to increase vitamin D during these gloomy days for strong bones, a healthy immune system, and fighting inflammation.

How To Increase Vitamin D Naturally

Vitamin D is nicknamed “the sunshine vitamin”, so naturally, when winter rolls around, how to increase vitamin D during this time becomes a hot topic of discussion. 

Here are a few easy-to-apply tips for how to get vitamin D in the winter, that you can start putting into practice today!

1. Bundle up & hit the slopes

Okay, for this one you don’t actually have to go skiing , but do throw on that scarf grandma knitted you last year (you know the one you’ve been “dying to wear…”) and head outside. Even if it’s just for 20 minutes, catching those rays will help raise your vitamin D in the winter. 

If you’re from Chicago like me, or somewhere similar, and the below zero temps make your nose drips turn into icicles, try positioning your desk, or your kitchen table near the window. You may not be able to go outside, but the sun shining through your blinds will do the trick! 

2. Your diet. Don’t worry, not dieting.

Did you flinch for just a second when you thought I said you had to go on a diet? I know I did…

But don’t worry, you don’t have to diet to get vitamin D in the winter, just sprinkle in some foods containing vitamin D and you’ll be good to go! Fatty fish like salmon and tuna contain good amounts of vitamin D, along with mushrooms, eggs, and milk (2). See, it’s probably all things you’d eat anyway, so this “vitamin D in the winter” diet should be a piece of cake (and you can eat cake, too!).  

3. Micronutrients & supplements. But make them good.

This last tip on how to get vitamin D in the winter is an easy one you can start implementing today. There are plenty of vitamin D supplements out there, but if you’re anything like me, remember to pop that vitamin D pill everyday doesn’t always pan out. And with all nutrients and micronutrients, it’s probably better to get them from natural sources, rather than a pill. 

Micronutrients are a great way to help rev up your nutrition and vitamin D in the winter, and the easiest way to get them all in is with a single scoop of polyphenol-packed Beauty Juice, antioxidant-rich Skinny Greens, or both! I love taking these two superfood powders because they’re so delicious, I never, ever, forget to drink them. Like never. Can you overdose on superfoods…asking for a friend…

Each powder contains loads of antioxidants and superfoods to keep you healthy and thriving this winter! Take one or take them both, and you can even save the big bucks when you bundle buy them together! 

The Bottom Line 

How to get vitamin D in the winter is easier than you think. These three simple steps are here to put the sunlight back into your darker days, with the ever-so-appreciated assist of Beauty Juice and Skinny Greens! Cheers to a happy and healthy winter!