How Vitamin D Reduces Your Stress Hormones This Holiday Season

We hope everyone is safe and well!

Shine a Light on Your Stress

With people quarantined away from their loved ones, and life coming to a standstill, they year of the pandemic has taken a severe toll on everyone’s mental and physical health.  The general level of stress and anxiety among the population have sky-rocketed, and self-isolation has not made things any better. However, stress is merely a reaction from your brain triggered by specific events, and managing stress is mostly in our control, albeit it isn’t easy!

What does Vitamin D do Beyond Helping My Bones?

While it is a known fact that sitting in the sun helps your body produce vitamin D, the specific benefits of the vitamin are seldom highlighted. Vitamins, in general, are organic substances that encourage certain reactions in your brain and body. One of these reactions is the production and release of the “happy chemical” serotonin and dopamine.

As far as Vitamin D is concerned, think about how you feel after you spend a day in the sun and how you feel in winters when the sun hasn’t been out for a few days. This contrast of emotions is what explains the subtle relationship between Vitamin D and your mental health.

Studies have shown that Vitamin D is one of the main vitamins that helps your brain cope with stress. On the other hand, stress can hinder your body’s ability to absorb vitamin D, creating a vicious cycle. When your body is under stress, it releases a hormone called cortisol. This hormone is the main culprit behind blocking the receptor called calcitriol, which essentially helps with Vitamin D absorption.

If you’re training for a particular sport and you’re anxious about how well you’re going to perform, you must keep your Vitamin D levels in check. Studies have shown significant improvement in athletic performance as a result of improved Vitamin D levels. Moreover, Vitamin D helps with preventing injuries and as well as healing after an injury. Ask your personal trainer about how you can supplement Vitamin D in your diet to reduce stress and increase focus.

On the other hand, if you’re not a fan of nutritional supplements, there are a few changes you can make to your lifestyle and diet to increase your vitamin D intake naturally.

4 Ways to Get Vitamin D Naturally

1. Sun Exposure

10 am to 3 pm is the ideal time to be exposing your skin to the sun and letting your body produce its own vitamin D. According to a 2012 study, vitamin D from the sun circulates twice that of vitamin D from food or supplements.

1. Seafood

The most potent natural source of vitamin D is seafood, especially fatty fish. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 100g of salmon provides about 380 IU of vitamin D, which is about 50% of the RDI. The percentage of vitamin D varies among different kinds of seafood. Here are some sustainable seafood options to consume.

1. Egg Yolks

When you go to the gym or workout at home, egg yolks are an essential item in your diet. The main reason behind this is the high amount of vitamin D.

1. Dairy Products

Dairy products include Swiss cheese, cottage cheese, cow milk, and even butter. These products are highly recommended for muscle growth and repair because of their high vitamin D levels.

Bottomline…

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that has plenty of benefits for your mental and physical health. However, a surplus of Vitamin D can also be toxic to the human body.  If you have concerns about too much Vitamin D in your system, please call your doctor.  If you know you need more, we can guide you on dietary sources and help provide more exposure to the sunlight at the new OUTDOOR GYM! Our Award winning Personal Trainers are waiting to help you achieve your goals and be the best version of you Iron Orr Fitness has a NEW FULL OUTDOOR GYM available to our clients to train safely under Covid-19 shutdowns.  For your complimentary assessment please click here.  Like we mentioned, you can also get a personal trainer and/or specific diet help by clicking here to put you on a more direct path without “trying” to figure your body out with dozens of trial and error months Shine a Light on Your Stress .

If you’re concerned about your cortisol levels and would like to take action, contact us for the best Personal Trainers San Diego NOW!  

Here’s to living your life to its fullest and Shine a Light on Your Stress !