As the fall semester nears its conclusion and winter rears its ugly head, I’m reminded of the masses of Canadians suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD, also known as seasonal depression, affects millions of people across the globe, but it’s much more prevalent in countries that experience a proper winter.
Here on Vancouver Island, we typically don’t have particularly harsh winters with extreme cold and massive blizzards. What we are stuck with, however, is about five months of grey.
While some may argue that this “meh” weather is not that bad, the issue is that we often go days, or even weeks, without seeing the sun.
When our skin is rarely exposed to sunlight, we absorb little to no vitamin D. If you were to compound this with a vegetarian or vegan diet you could be looking at a serious Vitamin D deficiency.
Several studies have found a link between Vitamin D deficiency and depression, with an even stronger correlation to SAD. I’m not saying that people’s experiences with depression aren’t real. Your struggles are real and valid, but they might also be preventable.
Vitamin D deficiency also causes reduced testosterone production, leading to low testosterone. Some of the symptoms of low testosterone include fatigue, reduced sex drive, and depression.
No matter what gender you identify as, low levels of vitamin D can cause some serious issues. So how do we address the root cause of the problem?
The first thing you should do is go outside. Whenever there’s sun, take advantage of it. Even if it’s grey you’ll still absorb some vitamin D, and some is better than none.
Secondly, a diet high in animal proteins will do wonders for you. Salmon, tuna fish, cow’s milk, and beef liver are so high in nutrients that your body will feel better than ever.
The third step—which is not always necessary, but is always helpful—is Vitamin D supplementation. I recommend finding one paired with K2 for optimal absorption. Anywhere from 1000-5000 IU will have a positive impact.
Go outside, eat some real food, and keep your head up, Camosun students.
The sun will be back out before you know it.