5 Easy Ways to Get Vitamin D Without Going Outside
Most people enjoy the sunlight. They enjoy its warmth, health benefits, and mood-boosting good-ole-attitude. Not me. I prefer to stay indoors.
It wasn’t really my fault I have an aversion to sunlight; I work all day from home and with everything being accessible with the push of a button on an app, there was no really good justification for me to leave my house.
So when I found out I had a Vitamin D deficiency – a lack of an efficient nutrient that helps strengthen muscles, bones, immune system, nervous system, and circulatory system – I really went out of my way to get some sufficient amount of Vitamin D, without changing out of my pajamas. Below are some of the easiest ways I found out to up that Vitamin D intake without going outside:
1. Eat Fish
Fish, specifically fatty-type fish, have high source of Vitamin D. Opt for wild-caught seafood such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel as farmed fishes tend to have less Vitamin D stored within them. Start by adding some of these fishes to your everyday diet. Even eating these fishes once a week can help improve your Vitamin D levels.
2. Eat Mushrooms
If you’re not a fish-eater, no worries. Mushrooms can also provide that luxurious Vitamin D because they also need to get their Vitamin D from the sun. Mushrooms are a real treat to add into any meal – whether it be a salad, side dish, or part of the main course. Just like the fishes, go for wild-grown mushrooms if you want high-levels of Vitamin D to come from the food you eat.
3. Try Fortified Foods
Fortified foods are foods that have Vitamin D added to them. Cow’s milk, for example, typically has Vitamin D added to it since calcium is naturally in milk and it also helps with muscle and bone growth. Commercially processed orange juice also has Vitamin D added to it. Even some cereals these days now contain Vitamin D. Definitely be on the look-out for fortified foods when browsing for your groceries online.
4. Try UV Lamp
Personally, I have a habit of not turning on the lights in my home because I enjoy naturally sunlight through the shades of my windows. But I do have to turn on the light eventually. So why not make turning on the light a healthy way to get some Vitamin D? Using a UV Lamp for 15 minutes can help boost your body’s natural ability to produce Vitamin D because it mimics the sun!
5. Try Supplements
Last but not least, supplements can be super helpful in upping your Vitamin D levels. They’re highly concentrated which mean it does its job efficiently. Most of the supplements you can find in the market are fish oils and liver oils. If you want high-quality supplement, I highly recommend signing up for our online dispensary account: Fullscript. Our dispensary ship high-quality, temperature-controlled supplements to your front door without you having to step outside (a huge win in my book!).
As you can probably tell by now, I rather use food to increase my Vitamin D levels than go outside. Fish and mushrooms are very easy to cook and add to your meals, and even adding a supplement or using a UV Lamp is a simple habit to add into your daily routine. Do what work best for you and your lifestyle, but just know that getting Vitamin D is simple. If you do decide to venture outdoors, aim to get about 15 minutes of sunlight (although the amount of sunlight needed to boost Vitamin D levels depend on your skin pigmentation). As always, ask your practitioner what they would recommend based on your health history and genetic background.
