You know how important it is to get Vitamin D, especially in the Black Hills during wintertime. Vitamin D is crucial to strong bones, and to combating the effects of SAD (seasonal affective disorder). But there’s another Vitamin that you need plenty of – Vitamin C!
Vitamin C is a rich and powerful antioxidant, which can be incorporated internally and externally for optimum benefit. Vitamin C protects your skin from environmental damage, prevents the signs of early aging, and boosts collagen.
It also acts as a photosynthesizer, opening the skin to more of the positive benefits of the sun. During winter, when sunlight is limited, that’s especially important.
Vitamin C also reduces free radicals which can damage not only your skin, but your DNA. Here are some of the ways that you can get your daily intake of Vitamin C:
Sunlight. Yes, you also have to protect yourself from the sun but 15 minutes of direct sunlight daily is uber important. PS you can still get some of those benefits when it’s cloudy but take advantage of every day with direct sunlight. Go outside. Take the dog for a walk, or just sit outside and chat with a neighbor.
Topically: many cosmetic products feature the benefits of Vitamin C. Our suggestion: try a serum under your moisturizer. It will help your skin fight the effects of pollution and other environmental toxins.
In Your Diet: so many foods are rich in Vitamin C. They also help boost collagen production in the body. Oranges, and strawberry both have high concentrations of Vitamin C but so do red peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts and kale.
Blend oranges, strawberries, kale along with your favorite milk and half a frozen banana for a crazy delicious shake!
So while you’re upping your dosage of Vitamin D during the winter, don’t forget about Vitamin C. These two will help lift you out of the winter doldrums and reap all the benefits of sunlight. Make it a twofer with a 15-minute yoga routine in the morning, in natural sunlight. Wake up the body and Sōl!