Today is World Vitamin D Day. November marks the beginning of “Vitamin D Winter” just about everywhere north of Atlanta in North America — from now through March vitamin D experts say the sun won’t be strong enough to make Vitamin D outdoors, which is why vitamin D levels are much lower in the winter in both hemispheres.

If you over-used sunscreen this summer (everyday, instead of just when sunburn was possible), your stores of vitamin D are more likely to be lower than average and will plummet even lower on the curve during the winter. Get your levels checked with a calcidiol 25 (OH) D test next time you go to the doctor. The vitamin D research community worldwide targets 40-60 ng/ml as a natural vitamin D level.

For more information on World Vitamin D Day, visit www.vitamindday.net