D is for deficient
One of the many tests my doctor ran as part of my annual exam last week was a vitamin D screening. She was worried that with my current diet I wasn’t consuming enough of the vitamin and combined with my lack of interest in outdoor activities, I wasn’t getting any of the stuff from the sun’s amazing co-production facilities. Of course, her bigger concern was that I was getting ready to head off to a nation known more for rainy, cloudy days than sunbathing.
And, as suspected, I am vitamin D deficient for the first time in my life.
It’s a small knock to my health-esteem because it’s yet another reminder that not only has my diet floundered in the past two years, but my once avid enjoyment of the great outdoors has all but disappeared as well.
I know I’ve said it over and over again, but I am confident that once I’m away from here and the constant reminders of my shattered dreams, I will be better at everything. Once my new future kicks in, I will have more energy to devote to eating well and I will be excited about taking up my once-enjoyed outdoor (and indoor) activities.
But I can’t continue to neglect myself in between now and then. So I’m trying to figure out some stop-gap solutions.
First up, I’ve found a list of vitamin D rich foods. Lucky for me, salmon and tuna are in the top four and eggs are on the list, too – toward the bottom, but they’re on it! Second, I’ve started to research multivitamins. I’ve always shunned such things because (in the past) I always got all the vitamins and minerals I needed from my wholesome, home-cooked meals. But that’s no longer the case.
So for now, I’ll try to eat more fish and eggs. And I’ll take a vitamin tablet each day. And hopefully, when my new future becomes my reality, I’ll be getting my vitamin D from the sun again and the rest of my nutrients from my food.
Or, to summarise: I’m deficient in vitamin D and to fix that I will be eating more yummy things like mushroom omelettes and baked salmon. Yay!
i’ve been supplementing with 1000iu vit do over the winter and seem to have knocked colds etc on the head.
interestingly, vit D also seems to have some bearing on depressive symptoms and risk of depressive episodes …
while i’m not feeling exactly happy clappy all the time, my mood is currently much more positive …….
I was thinking that vitamins (D or otherwise) might also help with my mood and energy levels. I’m glad to hear that it seems to help you!!
There are just so many to chose from! I’ll research for a few days then head out to the co-op/health food store to see what they carry.
I want to be happy clappy again!! (Yay!)
I know you run and stuff now, but in Scotland won’t you be walking to university and to the shops and everything? Just being forced outside for a little while every day is sure to help both the mood and vit D levels!
I was thinking that, too! I am convinced that once I’m away from this current life I’m living, I’ll get more outdoor time. I’ll be staying 1/2 the summer with my folks before I leave for Scotland and will certainly find time to soak up the rays then!! And once I get to Scotland, as you say, there will be lots of walking!
Yes, but I think that the fact that I will be outside for more than 2 minutes at a time there will still mean a boost compared to what I’m getting here. Not a lot, mind you, but it shall be something.
But more importantly, being there will [fingers crossed] be a massive boost to my overall mental health which will mean that I’m exercising more and eating better–the eating better of course will be a boost to my vitD.
So Scotland (despite its anti-vitamin D sentiments) will help boost my vitD levels. If for no other reason than there’s lots of yummy salmon ‘floating’ around there! 😉
If it’s mood, vit B is worth a try.
I take a yummy chewy vitamin supplement everyday. any excuse to eat something that looks (and tastes) like a wine gum!!
When I was a kid, my cousins and friends all took Flintstones Vitamins and I was so jealous because they got, essentially, candy every day! My parents were adamant that we didn’t need them because we got all the nutrients we needed in our food. As a grownup, I realised they were right. But as a kid, I wanted candy!!
I’m still researching the ‘best’ product, but have chosen a ‘One A Day – Women’s’ for now because it gets very high marks and reviews. It has a bit of everything (including VitB) but I always wonder about the absorption of vitamins.
I have a quick visit with my doctor next week so will ask for her recommendations–but also plan to stop in at the hippy store (health food/co-op) to see what they have to say.
Gummy vitamins sound lovely, but with my candy addiction I’d probably over dose!! (So best stick to real gummy candies!)