What is the best time of day to take vitamin D? It depends largely on your lifestyle.
Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin, which means that it is best absorbed by your system when consumed as part of a nutritious meal. However, it can also come from the sun.
No matter what your age, vitamin D is a great nutrient to include in your diet or routine. There are also many different ways you can incorporate it into your life.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of vitamin D and how to naturally raise your levels.
Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D has many benefits to offer. There aren’t many systems and functions in the body that don’t benefit from having vitamin D.
The systems and functions in the body it supports includes:
- Heart
- Brain
- Muscles
- Immune system
- Bones
Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones and muscles. Without vitamin D, our body cannot absorb calcium, which is one of the building blocks of good bone health. This means that if there is no vitamin D present in the body, we would not be able to maintain our bones.
As we age, bone health is very important to maintain and support while we’re young. In order to do this, your body needs the right amount of vitamin D.
Sources of Vitamin D
Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D can be naturally produced by going outside or sitting by a sunny window. This occurs when your skin is exposed to the sun.
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it makes vitamin D from cholesterol. So, getting some rays can be a great way to help your body produce it naturally. However, you should always use sunscreen to protect your skin from too much exposure to harsh UV rays.
Maintaining vitamin D can also be done through performing moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes per day.
Regular exercise can help with bone health and improve feelings of alertness, just like vitamin D. Some examples of moderate exercise include:
- Walking
- Biking
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Landscaping
- Dancing
However, although Vitamin D can be obtained through diet, exercise, and sun exposure, your body may still lack enough vitamin D.
When to Take Vitamin D
First Thing in the Morning
When you are trying to figure out the best time of day to take a vitamin D supplement, you must be aware of the many factors that may play a role in your response to vitamin D.
The best time of day to take vitamin D supplements is in the morning. It is also a good idea to take it around your breakfast time to best absorb it. Since Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is best absorbed when taken with a meal.
However, many factors can affect when this occurs, such as your circadian rhythm, your sleep schedule, and when you typically go to bed. For instance, your sleep quality and duration may affect when you feel most comfortable taking a vitamin D supplement.
Sunlight
You could also go outside to get vitamin D in the morning after you wake up when your skin is most sensitive to the light. Whether you choose to expose your skin to the sun by going to the beach or by sitting under a large shade, as mentioned prior, it is very important to wear protection such as sunscreen if this is the method you choose to get your vitamin D.
Vitamin D production is highest in the spring and summer months when sunlight is usually most abundant. This means that most people who need to boost their vitamin D levels don't get enough in the winter season.
If this sounds like you, a supplement would be a great addition to your normal routine.
To reap the full benefits of vitamin D, you must consistently expose your body to as much natural sunlight as possible throughout the day. In addition to boosting your vitamin D levels, regular sun exposure has other benefits.
These other positive health benefits include improving circulation, helping to support the heart, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, and helping support emotional wellness.
Start Early
Many people choose to take a vitamin D supplement once they start experiencing signs of deficiency. Others choose to wait until they are much older to add a vitamin D supplement to their diet.
If you choose to wait until you are older to start adding vitamin D supplements to your diet, you should be sure to make other lifestyle changes that will ensure your body receives as much vitamin D as it needs.
Vitamin D supplements are an effective way to raise your blood levels and help keep your skin healthy and young.
Some vitamin D supplements are naturally absorbed better by the body than others. In addition to choosing the best time of day to take a vitamin D supplement, it is also important to consider other lifestyle factors that may affect vitamin D absorption.
For instance, if you tend to be exposed to very high levels of UV light from the sun, or if you live in a location where the sunlight is very bright for part of the day, you may get enough vitamin D through sun exposure.
However, if you do not live in an area with full sun year-round, it may be a good idea to take a vitamin D supplement. Another option to increase your vitamin D absorption rate is by eating a diet that is rich in vitamin D-rich foods such as salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, and vitamin D fortified foods.
Summary
There are many different ways to obtain vitamin D. Whether you take vitamin D by supplement, through your diet, or by sun exposure, it is best taken in the morning. Of course, there are exceptions and variances due to sleep schedules, the amount of sun exposure, and vitamin D in the diet.
There are many factors that can affect this, especially when it comes to sleep schedules, as mentioned before. However, the best time of day is around the same time as your first meal to help maximize absorption as well as the benefits of vitamin D in your body.
The majority of the systems and functions in your body are impacted by vitamin D, so it is a great addition to your typical routine. Older adults particularly will benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement in the morning since their ability to absorb certain nutrients is somewhat diminished compared to younger adults.
