It happens every year; the dreaded cold and snow forces you to stay inside while gray skies become the norm. Sunlight is critical for human health and the winter months provide quite a challenge. Exposure to the sun is vital, and during the cold, gray months, it can be quite challenging to meet your body’s demands.

One of the primary factors for sun exposure is the production of Vitamin D. A study by Platforma SINC found that 10 to 20 minutes of sun exposure was sufficient for daily needs in spring and summer months but that exposure time balloons to 2 hours needed in the winter months.1. That’s right, 2 hours in the cold to meet your daily requirements. I don’t know about you, but I can’t make it two minutes of exposure in the cold! 1.

Eating foods high in vitamin D and supplementation could help significantly. This will help your body maintain a decent level in the absence of sunlight. Always check with your doctor before taking a supplement.

Working out can help blast those winter blues away as well. Studies have proven that exercise can help reduce depression, anxiety, and aid with stress! The good news is the training does not have to be high intensity, and something as simple as a walk can carry significant benefits. It has also been an energy booster, which is really needed to fight back against those gloomy days. 2.

Another tool in the fight against winter is light therapy. These are bright lights you can put in your house to help mimic the sun. During the winter months, the lack of sunlight can throw off our circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep or wake up. There are alarm clocks that mimic sunrise and help significantly during the winter months. There are also lights called sun lamps that can help considerably. These can be placed in any room and most effective during the morning. The great thing about sun lamps is they are readily available with no prescription. They don’t give off any harmful UV rays and are very safe.3.

Winter can causes a lot of disruptions to our body with lack of sunlight, difficulty exercising, and spending less time outdoors. This can pull our body out of balance and create a need to get back to homeostasis. Our body has an endocannabinoid system that helps regulate this process. CBD can be an aid to the endocannabinoid system. While the body naturally creates cannabinoids, CBD may help if there is a deficiency. 4.

These months may seem long, these tips will help you power through it and be even happier when the warm months come. Just remember winter is a short time of the year, and better weather is coming!

Source 1: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170308083938.htm

Source 2: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-exercise#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5

Source 3: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-sun-lamps-best-to-improve-your-winter-mood/

Source 4: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/does-cbd-help-promote-homeostasis/