Do you have a vitamin D deficiency?

AccuWeather

Dr. Matthew Goldman explains why vitamin D is particularly important in the winter when people are less likely to be in the sun.

Transcript

00:00 Vitamin D is essential for our bodies,

00:02 especially when it comes to bone health,

00:04 but many people don't get enough of the

00:06 so called sunshine vitamin in the winter.

00:08 There's less sunlight.

00:10 Typically during wintertime,

00:11 people are wearing more layers

00:12 during the wintertime and as a result,

00:15 there's less exposure to the sunlight.

00:16 So unless you're in one of the

00:18 warmer climates during the winter,

00:20 sitting lakeside in Hawaiian shirt

00:22 may not be the most feasible thing for you,

00:24 but it is still recommended to get

00:26 out into the sunshine as much as

00:28 you are comfortable with in the winter.

00:30 And of course,

00:31 as safety permits you to do so.

00:32 But if that is not a feasible option for you,

00:35 there are ways indoors for you to

00:37 get in some of that vitamin D.

00:39 Although it can be very hard to

00:41 get outside during the winter,

00:42 Doctor Goldman said eating vitamin D

00:44 rich foods like salmon and mushrooms

00:45 can help, but this might not be

00:47 enough for everyone and symptoms

00:49 of a deficiency to look out for

00:50 include fatigue, memory trouble,

00:52 bone pain and muscle weakness.

00:53 Still, though,

00:54 many people don't know they're

00:56 not getting enough vitamin D,

00:57 and that's why Doctor Goldman says

00:59 talking to your doctor about testing

01:01 may be important, especially if

01:02 you're more at risk for a deficiency

01:04 like infants and those over the age

01:06 of 65 along with memory impairment.

01:08 Having a vitamin D deficiency

01:10 can increase your chance of

01:12 developing bone issues over time.

01:13 High risk of osteoporosis or porous bones.

01:16 Weak bones, higher risk for fractures

01:18 and breaks, especially with a slip

01:21 and fall for AccuWeather.

01:22 I'm meteorologist Tony law back.

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