Also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D forms in our bodies when we’re exposed to UV rays from the sun. The vitamin and hormone is also present in foods such as egg yolks, mushrooms, some fish, and certain fortified dairy products. Though unless you’re eating cod liver oil at every meal or spending hours on end outdoors, it can be difficult to get the recommended daily dose of vitamin D from food and sunlight alone. That’s why some doctors suggest taking a nutritional supplement to ensure you’re getting the 200 to 600 I.U.s of vitamin D per day the NIH recommends. And while you’re at it, Avena also recommends pairing your daily vitamin with a daily banana. Besides its high magnesium count, bananas also contain potassium and vitamins B6 and C. Get into the habit of peeling one back with your vitamin D in the morning or before bed (magnesium and potassium can also encourage relaxation). Or if bananas aren’t your favorite, you can doctor them up into breads, pancakes, or muffins or take a magnesium supplement instead to ensure your levels are up to par. When choosing a vitamin D supplement, Avena recommends looking vitamin D3 (as opposed to D2). mindbodygreen’s hemp multi+ supplement combines vitamin D3 with full-spectrum hemp oil, hops, rosemary, black cumin seed, clove, and black pepper for a well-rounded formula that provides all the benefits of vitamin D while supporting mood and helping the body react to stress.* Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
