Do you miss the vital sunshine?

Although the days are getting longer, we still miss the sunshine. I longingly stare out the window whenever the sun happens to come out. I don't really have time to go for a walk outside during the week, and the weather is often too nasty on the weekend to remain out for extended periods of time.

Not only does the lack of sunshine and Vitamin D influence our mood, it can also cause a number of health problems as well.

It can weaken your body's immune system and can contribute to a lack of calcium and in fact, it can even intensify the symptoms of eczema and asthma. Medical research has extensively proven that Vitamin D deficiency can even be tied to the development of arthritis and certain tumour-related diseases. In fact, you are more prone to catching the flu if you don't get enough Vitamin D.

Here's how to avoid Vitamin D deficiency:

• If your diet allows for it, eggs and fish are a great source of Vitamin D
• From the range of mushrooms, Portobello and Oyster mushrooms are the best sources of Vitamin D
• Most non-dairy milk available in stores contain added Vitamin D
• You can easily replenish your supply with Vitamin D drops from a pharmacy or drug store

Yet what's even better than any of these solutions is if you let sunshine come in contact with your skin. If you're travelling into the mountains or to a lake or riverside, make sure you have some form of sunscreen and take a jar of shea butter with you if you do happen to get sunburn.

You can read more about protecting your skin during the winter in my previous blog post.