The Importance of getting enough Vitamin D

Did you know that during these Canadian winters, fewer UVB photons from the sun reach our skin because of our latitude? Our skin absorbs UVB light which converts pre-vitamin D into Vitamin D3 which then gets metabolized by the liver and kidneys into a form that the body finds very useful. But fewer light rays in the winter in combination with wearing more clothes, more cloud cover and more time indoors means that we’re not getting enough of this essential vitamin! Far too many Canadian’s are Vitamin D deficient. We need it not only to keep our bones and teeth strong but research has actually found the vitamin D receptor in nearly every body tissue as well as thousands of binding sites on our genome -meaning it controls many of our genetic expressions as well! Even more, this one vitamin has been linked to many health concerns, from the flu to MS, depression, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
So if flying to Hawaii isn’t in the budget, where else can we get it from? 
A few excellent options include salmon, sardines, eggs, mushrooms, and cod liver oil. If these foods aren’t in your diet, talk to your doctor or naturopathic doctor about checking your Vitamin D levels and consider supplementation as an option.