With a lack of sunshine and some fresh produce missing from local sources during the winter months, you might find that you lack energy or don’t get all of the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay healthy. But during a time when flu season is more common and keeping up your spirits is key, knowing what benefits vitamins offer and what food sources to get them from will go a long way to ensuring you’re healthy and happy all winter long.
The old adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” might sound like a myth, but it does have some fact, though the source extends into other fruits and vegetables as well. In particular, vitamin C, found in such produce as spinach, snow peas, kiwi and strawberries, to name just a few, is an immunity antioxidant and getting the right amount of it could help you stay healthy this winter.
Vitamin A also helps with immunity, in addition to supporting vision, skin and bone, and can be found in lots of produce that’s still available in the winter – butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin.
If you’re looking for vitamin D in the winter when you’re out in the sunshine less frequently, you can find it in fortified milk, egg yolks, liver and fatty fish. Plus, the trusty apple is a good source of vitamin D and it also offers fibre and doesn’t spike your glycemic index while it’s giving you the nutrients you need.
Vitamins B1 and B2 might give you the energy boost you need as the days get darker earlier and they also boost metabolism in such foods as spinach, green peas, tomato juice broccoli and eggs.
Two other vitamins that you often hear a lot about are B12 and E. The former, found in meats and meat products such as poultry, fish, milk and eggs, helps to break down fatty acids and amino acids. The latter is an antioxidant that can be found in polysaturated plant oils from such food items as soybean, corn and canola oils, as well as sunflower seeds, tofu, avocado and shrimp, among others.
Stay healthy this winter with all of the vitamins you need and learn more about this and other food-related topics by checking out our other blog posts.
Leave a Reply