Bone Health Part 2

Posted by Katarina on October 2, 2015 in Digest&Manifest Facts Food For Thought Health Coaching Inspire&Acquire Yoga

Bone Health Part 2

Last week I had you consider that perhaps you don’t need more calcium for your bones but more magnesium and vitamin D. If you missed that email, go here.

Your body can’t use calcium to strengthen your bones unless you also have magnesium and vitamin D to assimilate it properly.

I’m sure you are familiar with the fact that you can get vitamin D from the sun. However, did you know that it’s actually a hormone that your body produces from a reaction to the sun and the only vitamin your body makes itself?

VITAMIN D IS THE MOST UNDERVALUED NUTRIENT IN THE WORLD, SINCE MOST PEOPLE ASSUME THEY ARE GETTING ENOUGH FROM THE SUN.

How much your body makes from the sun depends on:

  • gps location
  • season
  • skin type
  • air pollution
  • time of day
  • body parts exposed
  • age
  • sunscreen use

All of my clients who live in the midwest have a low vitamin D count when we do blood work in the winter and spring. I always recommend taking a supplement and adding these foods into their diets since it’s much harder to get the appropriate amount from the sun at those times of the year:

  • fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines)
  • egg
  • mushrooms
  • beef liver
  • cod liver oil
  • fortified milk (almond, cow’s, goat, coconut – most milks have it added in)
  • fortified orange juice
  • fortified yogurt

Vitamin D is not only important for bone strength but also supports proper immune function.

So this winter, consider taking a vitamin D supplement, especially if you live in the north or a place with low sun exposure. You may also want to get your levels checked via blood work from your doctor.

This week your healthy challenge is to spend extra time outside in the sun and to choose to eat foods that are rich in vitamin D.

P.S. If you’re in Chicago this weekend, join me tomorrow, Saturday October 3rd, at 2:30pm for a chill yoga class at Studio DelCorpo to support a great cause! We ask for a $20 donation where 100% of the proceeds will go to the Achon Uganda Children’s Fund, my friend’s charity, in order to help the community rebuild through improved healthcare and education. Get more details here.