SA Weightloss Hypnosis

Have you ever considered the importance of Vitamin D? It certainly wasn't on my radar until a few years ago, and it was only after I sought help from my integrative doctor on why I was so tired, fatigued and generally being in a low mood, that I began to find out more about the importance of this very underrated Vitamin.

What I learned was that having the right amount of Vitamin D is crucial for our health at all stages of life. However, for women during midlife and in particular when estrogen levels decline, Vitamin D becomes really important and affects how our body absorbs it.

Obviously, a limited amount of exposure to the sun can affect the production of Vitamin D, along with age, obesity, gut health disorders and some medications, including weight loss medications.

So how can we maximize this amazing Vitamin D production?

Sunlight, of course! It's a natural source of Vitamin D. When sunlight hits our skin, it triggers the production of melatonin, also known as our sleep hormone. We need this to start in the morning, so our body gives us what we need at night to sleep. Spending 15 to 30 minutes in daylight in the morning can help meet a big portion of our daily Vitamin D requirement.

Quality sleep is THE most important thing to focus on if your goal is to lose weight. Poor sleep will stop your body from utilising its fat stores at night, in addition to creating low level underlying stress which is the biggest blocker to weight loss.

Not only does lack of Vitamin D affect our sleep, it also impacts thyroid function, muscle function, liver, kidney and pancreas function, mood and menopausal symptoms.

Let's take a closer look at the impacts to our body

Vitamin D and Thyroid Health:

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining thyroid function, which is pretty close to my heart as I have Hashimoto's disease. Lack of Vitamin D can lead to calcium loss from our bones. If you're a regular exerciser like me, and experiencing more muscle aches and pains than usual, it could be a sign that you need more calcium, which requires adequate Vitamin D for production.

Vitamin D and Serotonin Levels:

Vitamin D has a significant impact on our serotonin levels, often referred to as the "happy hormone." When our serotonin levels are good, we generally feel happier and more motivated. On the other hand, low levels of serotonin are linked to poor mental health, depression, fatigue and low motivation.

Managing Menopausal Symptoms with Vitamin D:

If you're experiencing hot flushes during menopause, maintaining your levels of Vitamin D can help regulate your body temperature, potentially reducing the intensity of these symptoms.

So how can we support our health, weight and lifestyle?

In addition to sunlight, incorporating Vitamin D-rich foods into our diet can support us naturally. Some of these sources of Vitamin D include sardines, salmon, tuna, cheese & egg yolks, along with dark leafy greens, legumes, almonds and orange juice.

I also recommend adopting a Mediterranean-Inspired Eating Pattern, which focuses on more plant-based proteins, and can also contribute to our Vitamin D and calcium intake. This way of eating includes fish and seafood, but mainly vegetables & fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil, all of which support overall health and well-being.

Maintaining your Vitamin D levels is essential for your health, particularly if your goal is weight loss in midlife. The impacts of low Vitamin D levels can have a multifactor negative impact to many aspects of our health.

So my question to you is….

If there is just one thing you can start with, either getting up earlier to be in the sunlight, eating more Vitamin D and calcium-rich foods or adopting a Mediterranean-inspired eating pattern, which would it be?

If you'd like to find out more about how I can help you to stop gaining weight, increase motivation, and get off the dieting cycle for good, then please book in a FREE 30-min chat with me by clicking HERE.