Life as a travel nurse moves quickly. You’re constantly traveling to new places, and life can feel hectic. This means that sometimes the most important health practices are neglected. When health is put in second place, illnesses and injuries often occur that require time off to recuperate. Because your profession revolves around you being present and alert to help others, your health is also important to maintain. With this being said, getting in your daily vitamins is a great way to maintain your energy, ward off illnesses, and to keep your body strong.
Why You Need Vitamin D
Vitamin D keeps bones and teeth healthy by making sure enough phosphorus and calcium are absorbed. It is also important for adults, especially those with intense jobs such as working in the health industry. Dental problems and broken bones can take a lot of time away from helping others. In addition, vitamin D protects the immune system. This is important for everyone, especially during flu season, but it is especially important for those who are regularly around sick people.
Why You Might Be Missing It
Ever since the widespread use of sunscreen, many people are vitamin D deficient. This may seem like a strange connection. However, the reasoning is that humans manufacture their own vitamin D but need the sun to do it. When sunlight hits your skin, a chemical process begins that results in vitamin D production. This will not happen when sunscreen blocks the natural UV rays. Vitamin D is often one of the neglected nutrients, but that can easily be remedied. If you are wondering how to increase vitamin D levels quickly, there are a number of ways to accomplish it.
The Easiest Way to Get Enough Vitamin D
Many are afraid to be in the sun for even a few minutes, but in reality, all it takes to provide yourself with a sufficient amount of this nutrient is to spend up to half an hour in the sun at least twice a week without sunscreen. After half an hour, you should have produced enough and can then apply protection to avoid sunburn. This is the quickest and easiest method to increase vitamin D levels. Obviously, it is also the cheapest. This is why vitamin D is often referred to as “the sunshine vitamin.” If this is not possible for some reason, or if you live in a northern climate where sunlight is scarce in winter, a UV lamp can have a similar effect. These lamps are also good for those who tend to suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Other Ways to Get Vitamin D
If sunlight is not a good option for you, there are other sources of vitamin D. In generations past; people would often keep a bottle of cod liver oil in their refrigerators and have a spoonful of it every morning during fall and winter. It’s true that most of them stayed healthy through flu season but tasting oil that came from a fish’s liver first thing in the morning is not the most pleasant way to start the day. Thankfully, this oil now comes in capsule form. Choose a “burpless” formula, or you may end up tasting that oil throughout the day. You can also regularly eat certain foods to replenish your vitamin D supplies. These foods include mushrooms, cold-water fish like tuna, and eggs, including the yolks. There are also some common foods supplemented with vitamin D such as milk.
Conclusion
Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients for humans and one of the easiest to obtain. Try taking a break to sit outside on the next sunny day or if you happen to travel to a warm climate as a travel nurse. Not only will you be making your own vitamin D, but you will also be less stressed when you return to your responsibilities.
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