LESS SUNSHINE? DON’T LET YOUR VITAMIN D TAKE A VACATION.
We love Pennsylvania in the fall—crisp mornings, colorful leaves, football, and
pumpkin everything. But there’s one thing we get a lot less of as the days get
shorter: sunshine. And that matters because your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight.
As fall turns into winter, less sun exposure means we have fewer opportunities to make vitamin D naturally. Vitamin D is important for bone health, calcium absorption, and normal immune function.
So while you’re putting away the patio furniture, it might be a good time to think
about putting vitamin D on your daily health checklist.
Vitamin D & Your Immune System: Vitamin D gets a lot of attention during cold and
flu season—and there’s a reason for that. Vitamin D plays an important role in the
immune system, and research has found an association between low vitamin D
levels and a greater risk of respiratory infections.
In one large study of 25 randomized controlled trials involving more than 11,000
people, regular vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in the
risk of acute respiratory infections.
Now, we're not saying vitamin D is a magic force field against every cough, cold,
and sneeze that comes your way. Wouldn't that be nice? But making sure you're
getting enough is one small piece of supporting a healthy immune system.
And Here's Where Vitamin K Comes In: If you're shopping for vitamin D, you may
notice we carry both Vitamin D3 and Vitamin D3 + K2. So what's the deal with
adding K2? Think of D3 and K2 as a team. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from your digestive tract, while vitamin K is involved in activating proteins that help direct calcium into bone.
Our Vitamin D3 + K2 combines 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 with 100 mcg of vitamin K2 (MK-7) in one convenient supplement. If you're already taking vitamin D, it's worth asking your pharmacist whether a D3 + K2 combination makes sense for you.
A Little Vitamin D Can Be an Easy Addition: One of the things we like about vitamin D is that supplementation can be a simple and affordable addition to your routine. You don't need a complicated supplement cabinet or a dozen different bottles.
Before starting a high-dose vitamin D supplement, talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Vitamin K can interact with certain medications, particularly warfarin. Not sure which one is right for you? Ask us! We'll be happy to look at your medications, supplements and health needs and help you decide what makes sense.
This fall, keep your Vitamin D out of the dark. The days may be getting shorter, but taking care of your health doesn't have to be complicated. Stop in and talk with our pharmacy team about vitamin D3 + K2.
