Vitamin D is most commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin.” This essential nutrient is necessary for healthy bones and muscles, heart health, and is linked to improved immune function.
Spending just 10 minutes outside on a sunny day helps the body create vitamin D however, in Illinois the sun is not strong enough for about half of the year to produce vitamin D from sun exposure. So, what can you do?
There are a few foods that contain vitamin D, like fatty fish and eggs, and there are foods that are fortified with vitamin D such as, milk, orange juice and some cereals. However, these sources only provide minimal amounts of vitamin D and it’s much easier to close this nutrient gap with supplementation.
Why Vitamin D3?
There are two kinds of vitamin D, D2 and D3 . Vitamin D2 is found in plants and some soy and almond milks are fortified with vitamin D2 . Vitamin D3 is the natural form of this nutrient that is created by the body with sun exposure, so it is much more readily absorbed by the body when in a supplement form.
We have multiple options for supplementation available in our office. Metagenics is a practitioner grade supplement company that we work closely with. Their supplements are non- GMO and gluten-free and highly absorbable and available to the body. They guarantee quality through third-party testing so what’s on the label is truly what you’re buying. We carry their D3 5000 and D3 10,000 +K capsules as well as their D3 liquid which is a super convenient way to dose the kiddos and great for adults who don’t like capsules. Another company known for their quality standards is Energetix. We carry their D3-K2 Lipospray which has a great taste and is also a convenient dosing option.
