Vitamin D has always been promoted as a protector of bone health, but recent research has shown it may be important for other reasons as well. For one thing, it can help to boost your immune system. Another reason to get enough vitamin D in your diet is to fight depression. If you’re feeling run-down and tired lately, get sick frequently, or think you may have a mild case of depression, then making sure your diet contains vitamin D is essential.
Most people know vitamin D has long been added to milk, but what if you’re a vegan or simply don’t like the taste of milk? There are definitely other ways to get this important nutrient into your system. Your body actually produces its own vitamin D when you’re exposed to sunlight. When your mother used to say, “go get some fresh air and sunshine”, she was actually right. Exposure to sunlight every day can help your body produce vitamin D and help ward off depression.
Like people, some mushrooms also produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Therefore, adding certain kinds of mushrooms to your diet can help you get the vitamin D your body needs. Since mushrooms are usually grown in the dark, you will have to check food labels to find the ones grown under UV lights. These are the ones that contain vitamin D. Some brands of orange juice are also fortified with vitamin D, but this is another time you will have to check food labels to be sure. Some brands of cereal are also fortified with the vitamin. Look for varieties made from whole grains, without a lot of added sugar.
If you truly have a difficult time getting vitamin D in your diet, and you live in a high-latitude area or one that gets little sunshine, there are a couple of ways to get the vitamin into your system regardless. There are UV lights you can purchase, and like a pet lizard or snake, you will just need to sit under this lamp for a few minutes to an hour a day. Also, you can take vitamin supplements. As with most supplements, it is best to get these nutrients from food sources, but they are a good backup plan if you have difficulty doing this through diet alone.