This November 2nd is Vitamin D Day! This day is dedicated to spreading awareness on vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency and making sure you and your loved ones are sufficient throughout the winter. Please join us in recognizing this day and spreading awareness on the issue, as we prepare for winter.
Furthermore, November is Vitamin D Awareness Month, so if you don’t have time to pay your dues November 2nd, please take the time to spread awareness throughout the month. We’ll explain why you should care:
What is vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a nutrient that your own body produces! When you expose your skin to the sun, you can make vitamin D, lots of it!
In the 21st century, however, we don’t get as much sun exposure as we used to. This has led to a vitamin D deficiency pandemic of sorts, and just this past year, the CDC reported that 65% of African Americans, 45% of Hispanics and 20% of Caucasian Americans are deficient in vitamin D.
Why November 2nd?
During the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun drops down and starts to focus on the Southern Hemisphere. Here in the north, the days are shorter and the sun doesn’t get very high in the sky. The further north you live, the longer the winter is, the less and less the sun gets high in the sky, and the longer period you can’t make much vitamin D. The sun just isn’t high or intense enough to allow your skin to produce vitamin D.
In other words, because of all this science mumble jumble, it’s hard to get vitamin D during the wintertime. For example, in places likes Boston and New York City, your skin can’t make much vitamin D November through March. If you live as far north in latitude as Edmonton, you can’t make much vitamin D October through April!
Be prepared, have a game plan! Make sure you and your friends and family are aware. Groups like Vitamin D Council and GrassrootsHealth recommend supplementing at the very least.
Who’s behind Vitamin D Day?
The Vitamin D Society promoted November as Vitamin D Awareness month in 2007, to help draw attention to vitamin D deficiency in Canada. “We are excited to grow this focus worldwide with other partner organizations by recognizing Vitamin D Day on November 2nd ,” says Executive Director, Perry Holman.
InspireHealth established Vitamin D Day November 2nd in Canada in 2009. From its humble beginnings in Vancouver it has grown, supported by proclamations in communities across Canada, to an international event. This grassroots public health movement inspired Dr. James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni to introduce Bill C-388, An Act to establish National Vitamin D Day.
Joining InspireHealth and Dr. James Lunney in the promotion of Vitamin D Day – November 2nd are GrassrootsHealth, a public health research and advocacy group from San Diego CA, the Vitamin D Council, USA, Health Research Forum, UK and the Vitamin D Society, Canada.
Are you an organization interested in partnering or taking a pledge to spread awareness this year’s Vitamin D Day? Email [email protected] or use the contact form on the Contact page.
What can I do?
- Check out vitamindday.net for a full list of details for events and actions you can take.
- Check out the Get involved page for direct calls to action.
- Also check out the Facebook page Vitamin D Day.
- And join in on the conversation on Twitter.