Winter is coming. This means taking stock and re-evaluating our vitamin and supplement routine. As the seasons change, we need to consider our old friend vitamin D3. I am often still surprised to see low levels of vitamin D in my patients, coming out of Summer. With all of this amazing sun in Denver, Colorado, why would a deficiency of vitamin D3 come up? Well, many people wear sunscreen—including myself. We want to protect our skin from sun damage and reduce our risk for skin cancer. Some people have darker skin tones and therefore more melanin in their skin. This means that they may require even more sun exposure in order to make adequate levels of vitamin D. Others may have genetic variations that predispose them to lower levels of vitamin D. Whatever the case, it is important to check your vitamin D status at least twice a year to see where you are at and find your ideal dosage.

Everyone wants to easily and conveniently optimize their health. This often leads to buying (and hopefully taking) vitamins and supplements. But which ones to focus on? There are so many to choose from!