Submitted by SXS Fitness’s Stefan Overgaard.
Increasing Your Sunshine Vitamin
“I have a feeling I am not the only one craving a bit of warm sunshine these days. It may be your body telling you, you need some extra vitamin D???? Sun exposure helps our bodies make and activate Vitamin D.
According to statistics Canada, in the winter, 40% of Canadians have below the recommended level of Vitamin D levels (50nmol/L). Low vitamin D levels can lead to osteoporosis and has been associated (not a direct cause) with increased risk of heart disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and even some cancers.
Increase your food intake of Vitamin D by eating more egg yolk (no longer on the “bad list”), good quality fatty fish 
like salmon or mackerel and dairy (or non-dairy) milk with added Vitamin D. You can also supplement Vitamin D, but make sure to choose the correct product. Vitamin D can come in different forms. For supplement use you want to look for D3, NOT D2. Although it used to be thought that both forms were fine for supplement use, more studies are showing that the D3 version is more effective at increasing 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood levels- the active form of Vitamin D.
Speak to your doctor or regulated health professional to see if Vitamin D supplementation is right for you; and of course you can use this tip as your rational for booking that amazing sunshine vacation you have been dreaming of and increase your Vitamin D with a little vitamin Sunshine.”