How to Get More Vitamin D in the Winter

Vitamin D has a wide range of impact on systemic health and has been shown to support physical, mental and immune system function. Maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D throughout the winter is important for supporting full body health.  

Why take vitamin D in the winter

Maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels is important all year round, but during the winter vitamin D is especially critical. In northern climates, getting vitamin D from the sun in the winter is not possible. Between November and March, the angle of the sun prevents the majority of ultraviolet B (UVB) light from getting through the atmosphere, and therefore from reaching our skin to stimulate vitamin D production. As a result, many people have a lack of vitamin D in the winter. Several diseases including influenza show winter seasonality. Some researchers hypothesize that this seasonality is due to decreased sun exposure and vitamin D during the winter months.

Benefits of vitamin D in the winter

The winter is a time of year that can be tough mentally for many people. Shorter days and less sun can take a toll on energy level, mood, motivation, and more. Approximately 3% of Canadians and 6% of the US population suffer from winter depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).[3,4] An even larger percent of the population, approximately 15%, suffers from a milder version of seasonal depression known as the winter blues.[3] Symptoms of depression for these conditions gradually begin at the start of winter as the days get shorter and gradually resolve in the spring as days get longer with more sunlight.

There are many different proposed mechanisms involved in the development of SAD. One factor is that low vitamin D levels in the winter may increase risk of depression. Correlational scientific evidence consistently indicates that higher vitamin D status is related to diminished mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.[5] Further studies have shown that increasing vitamin D levels can improve symptoms of depression. These studies suggest that maintaining sufficient vitamin D can be beneficial for winter depression. 

 
Click to learn more about the impact of vitamin D on mental health.

Best way to get vitamin D in the winter

Many doctors understand the importance of vitamin D in the winter and recommend taking a vitamin D supplement for preventing vitamin D deficiency and winter blues. While it is important to keep vitamin D levels up for winter, vitamin D pills may not be the best option for supporting systemic health. Vitamin D oral supplementation is not effective for a surprisingly large number of people and does not provide the same health benefits as exposure to light. 

Obtaining vitamin D from light may be the best vitamin D supplement for winter. But if you cannot get vitamin D from sun exposure, how are you supposed to get vitamin D from light during the winter months? 

SOLIUS uses a narrow spectrum of UVB light to naturally stimulate vitamin D production in the skin, by activating the same mechanisms as light from the sun. The SOLIUS innovative technology narrowly targets the spectrum of light most effective at stimulating vitamin D production, while eliminating nearly all the rest of the UV light spectrum. 

How much vitamin D do I need in the winter?

When it comes to vitamin D dosage for winter, everyone will have unique needs for keeping their individual body healthy. For oral supplements, the recommended dose of vitamin D you should take in the winter varies greatly among the medical community. Using light for making vitamin D during the winter months allows your body to self-regulate vitamin D production and make as much as it needs to stay healthy, without any risk of overdose or toxicity.