Winter’s here in Kentucky, which means less sunlight and thinking about vitamin D. Most of us aren’t getting enough—35% of American adults fall short. I’m one of them. Both my doctors told me I wasn’t getting enough, so I’ve been taking 1,000 IU supplements year-round.
What really surprised me: targeted vitamin D3 cut the chances of a second heart attack in half for people who’d already had one. I knew deficiency could affect health, but I had no idea it was tied specifically to heart health.
Since becoming diabetic, I’ve been eating two or three scrambled eggs every day for breakfast to keep my blood sugar stable. The eggs should help boost my vitamin D, too. If you’re trying to boost yours without relying solely on supplements, spending 10-15 minutes in direct sunlight a few times a week helps your body produce it naturally. Eating fatty fish like salmon or tuna regularly also makes a difference. My problem is I don’t eat fish as much as I’d like—they perish quickly, which makes me resist buying them. But I love salmon, so I’m going to try to eat it more often.
If I can raise my vitamin D levels through diet and sunlight, maybe I can eventually get off the pills.