I just finished reading an article over at SFGate about vitamin D. Apparently, we are missing out on our vitamin D intake as we become increasingly conscious of the potential health hazards of sun exposure and slather ourselves with sunscreen.
According to the article, a lack of vitamin D has been linked to, "... heart disease, cancer, depression, insomnia, diabetes, chronic pain and perhaps autism". Maybe it's this lack of vitamin D that explains why residents of California are less likely to suffer from insomnia than those who live in the Eastern states.
Either way, it's clear that vitamin D is important and most of us aren't getting enough. Recommendations for turning this around include (limited) sun exposure, better diet, exercise and vitamin D capsules.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this - have you heard of a link between insomnia and vitamin D before? Have you tried increasing your intake of vitamin D? The comments form is below.
Improve your sleep in two weeks: Over 5,000 insomniacs have completed my free insomnia sleep training course and 97% of graduates say they would recommend it to a friend. Learn more here.
Last updated: February 28, 2013
After having my vitamin D levels test at the low end of normal, and also being diagnosed with osteoporosis, I started taking 3500 iu per day of D3. I have had sleep problems for years, and with the vitamin D, I am sleeping much better. I have stopped taking a prescription med that I took for insomnia for over a year and a half (I’d taken others for years). I hope the better sleep continues!
Thank you so much for sharing. I hope you sleep continues – it would be great if you could keep us updated!