Sunset on Catamount. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

With a solid 30-day streak of gray skies, even getting outside hasn’t satisfied my craving for the sun. Thankfully, I am fortunate that I don’t suffer from any seasonal depression. Living in the North Country is lovely, but access to blue skies can lighten anyone’s mood. We all need to make sure we are getting our Vitamin D.

Another name for Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin. Drum roll, please. The human body can produce the vitamin when exposed to certain parts of the sun’s rays.

The ironic part of the situation is that the same sun wavelength necessary for the body to make Vitamin D is the same ultraviolet wavelength that can lead to sunburn or skin cancer. Like everything in life, it’s finding the balance. Don’t skip the sunblock, hoping you will get enough sun exposure to fill any vitamin deficiencies.

Why do we need Vitamin D? According to the National Institutes of Health, Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium needed to build and maintain strong bones. Humans also utilize it to help move muscles, for nerve function, and to maintain a healthy immune system. One in four people have a Vitamin D deficiency. In children, it can lead to rickets (softening of the bones), and in older adults, the vitamin’s absence can lead to osteoporosis (weakening of bones and muscles). A deficiency can present itself in various ways from muscle soreness to fatigue, but can be determined with a blood test.

Getting the required amount of Vitamin D only from the sun and natural food sources can be challenging. Because of this issue, the United States fortifies most milk and plant-based alternatives with the necessary ingredients. Cereals, yogurt, and various drinks may have been reinforced with Vitamin D. The best naturally occurring source for this vitamin is fatty fish like trout, salmon, mackerel and tuna or fish liver oil. Mushrooms, beef liver, cheese and eggs provide a small amount. It’s also easy enough to take an over-the-counter supplement if recommended by your doctor.

Please talk to your doctor if you have any signs of a vitamin deficiency. I’m talking about an actual doctor, not a TV doctor or an online medical “professional.” We are all guilty of getting information from unreliable sources. Stay safe while enjoying those sunny days. I’m going to go sit in the sun for a bit.