Loading
Vitamin D
HealthOnly if you are low
Helps bones and muscles if you are low, which is common in winter and for people who are rarely outside.
Guidance, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before starting a supplement if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are under 18 or have a health condition. Lit Apparel does not sell any of these.
What it does
Vitamin D is made in your skin from sunlight, and helps the body use calcium for strong bones and healthy muscles.
Being low is common in winter, in northern countries and for people who spend most of the day indoors. A supplement helps if you are low; it does little if you are not.
How it is used
- Ask your doctor about a blood test before taking it all year.
- Many health services suggest a daily supplement through the darker months.
- Take it with a meal that has some fat in it.
Who it suits
- People who are rarely outside in daylight
- Anyone through the winter months in the north
- People with darker skin, who make less from sunlight
Be careful
- More is not better: vitamin D builds up in the body and high amounts can be harmful.
- Ask a doctor first if you have kidney problems or take medication.
Food first
Oily fish, egg yolks and fortified milk or cereals.
Questions
Can I get enough from the sun?
In summer, often yes. In winter at northern latitudes, the sun is too low for the skin to make much.
D2 or D3?
D3 tends to raise blood levels more effectively; vegan D3 from lichen exists.
Read alongside
MagnesiumHealthOnly if you are lowMatters for muscle and nerve function, but a supplement only helps if your diet is short on it.
Omega-3 (fish oil)HealthLimited evidenceLittle evidence that it improves training on its own, but useful for general health if you rarely eat oily fish.
Creatine monohydrateStrength and powerWell supportedThe most studied supplement in strength training. It helps with repeated hard efforts and with strength gains over months of training.
Photographs made for Lit Apparel. Every container shown is unbranded: no product is pictured or endorsed.
TheCrewLetter
What is new in Lit Crew, in one short email: new programs, a recipe worth cooking and the next forum date. Sent only when there is something worth reading.