Winter, Vitamin D, Depression and Migraine Headaches
Depression has been shown to be a common risk factor in migraine and frequent headaches. And now that we are in the winter months, the symptoms of depression can become worse especially when we are more housebound and less active outside. Lack of sunshine can cause low levels of vitamin D, which in turn has been associated with depression. While we can't do anything about the natural rotation of the earth and the short sunlit days, we can help ourselves to feel better.
When we are out in the sun and the ultraviolet rays touch our skin, vitamin D is absorbed and synthesized by the liver and kidneys. Most people can meet their Vitamin D needs through exposure to the sun, especially if you live close to the equator, or during the summer months, however, if you live in the northern hemisphere, the UV energy is insufficient for Vitamin D synthesis especially in the winter months.
Having said this, what can we do?
Vitamin D is added to many food products, and is available as a dietary supplement. It is important to note that vitamin D is fat-soluble. This means you require a bit of fat in your diet when you take the vitamin D supplement in order for it to be absorbed efficiently and utilized by your body. There are certain health conditions that can inhibit absorption of fat, and therefore vitamin D, which include some forms of liver disease (ie: primary biliary cirrhosis), cystic fibrosis and Crohn's disease. And for these conditions, your doctor can prescribe prescription concentrated fat-soluble vitamins, if your doctor feels you are not absorbing these vitamins from over the counter supplements, or from your diet.
Dietary sources of vitamin D include salmon, sardines, shrimp and vitamin-D enriched milk, cod, and eggs.
The bottom line is we need to take advantage of what we can control. Vitamin D plays an important role in our health, and it is up to us to discuss with our medical doctor the importance of supplementing our diet with this valuable vitamin. If vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression and migraine, then one way to manage this health issue is to make sure your vitamin D levels are where they should be. To your health!
