Our Top Vitamin D Recommendations for Canadians
Here are our top vitamin D recommendations for Canadians to ensure you’re getting enough of this essential nutrient.
As the weather gets colder in Canada, it is the perfect time to ensure that you are taking steps to protect yourself from vitamin D deficiency. By choosing to get some direct sunlight and eating more vitamin D rich foods, you can combat the winter blues and ensure that your vitamin D levels are high enough to help protect against a wide range of health issues.
Keep reading to learn more.
Our Top Vitamin D Recommendations for Canadians
1. Eat more vitamin D rich foods.
Vitamin D is a nutrient that is essential for your health. It helps keep your bones strong, supports your immune system, and plays a role in helping to fight infections. Vitamin D can also improve your mood, making it a key treatment option for seasonal affective disorder.
Vitamin D is important for everyone, and there are many ways to get enough in your diet. Some foods naturally contain vitamin D, like fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines. Other sources of dietary vitamin D include beef liver, egg yolks, cheese, and fortified cereals.
2. Get sun exposure (but don’t forget the SPF).
While we’re all about getting out there and enjoying the great outdoors, we understand that not everyone can do this year-round. And if you’re Canadian, you might be particularly frustrated with your limited access to the sun.
It’s no secret that vitamin D is crucial for health, but did you know that it’s produced by your body when exposed to sunlight?
So, to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D, try stepping outside for at least 10 minutes every day, even if it’s cloudy or cold!
But don’t forget—even though you may be tempted to soak up every bit of sunshine you can, don’t forget to wear sunscreen! UV rays are still present even when the sun isn’t shining directly on you.
3. Get your vitamin D levels tested if necessary.
Vitamin D deficiency is a real issue in Canada. In fact, between 70%-97% of Canadians have insufficient vitamin D levels.
That’s why getting enough vitamin D is important. And if you aren’t, supplementation is a great way to ensure that your body has what it needs.
You can check your vitamin D levels in two ways: either by using an at-home rapid test kit or by booking an appointment with your doctor. Whichever way you choose, remember that it’s not enough just to check—you also need to take action based on your results.
4. Consider supplementing with vitamin D.
Remember these key tips when supplementing with vitamin D.
First, keep in mind that vitamin D is stored in your body, so it can take a while before you start feeling the effects of supplementation. It’s best to take it consistently over time rather than intermittently.
Second, the amount of vitamin D you need to take daily depends on your age, weight, and health conditions. You can check the current vitamin D recommendations for Canadians here.
Third, you should take your vitamin D with a meal or a snack that contains fat. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning it is best absorbed in the presence of fat.
Important Note: It is recommended that everyone who lives in Canada supplement with vitamin D due to the lack of sunlight.
5. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about supplementing with vitamin D if you have any questions or concerns.
The truth is, there’s a lot of conflicting information out there about vitamin D.
When trying to figure out whether or not you should be supplementing with vitamin D, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor or pharmacist first. That way, you can make sure you’re getting the right dose and that it won’t interact negatively with any other drugs or supplements you might be taking.
You can always reach out to our team of expert pharmacists here.
Final Thoughts
In this post, we’ve looked at the top vitamin D recommendations for Canadians. We’ve seen how vitamin D is crucial to your health and how a deficiency can result in various unpleasant symptoms—from depression and fatigue to muscle weakness.
But don’t worry: there are many options to get your vitamin D levels back up! From spending time outside to eating more vitamin D rich foods, we hope this post has provided you with many ideas for optimizing your intake.