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Description
This is the 11th part of my project "The Robots' Guide to Winter Depression" - an illustrated guide on how to get through the dark winter months and handle seasonal affective disorder. If you happen to speak Swedish, you'll find the original guide on my instagram: www.instagram.com/joensoderhol…

Tip number 11 - Get enough vitamins
Vitamins and minerals are nutrients that your body need to stay healthy. If we don't get enough of them, our bodies may suffer in different ways. Deficiency of iron or B12 may lead to tiredness and lack of energy for example.

Usually we get all the vitamins we need through our normal diet, but there are exceptions. If you are unsure, speak to your doctor to check if you risk having any vitamin deficiencies and need supplements. Please remember that it's possible to take too much of certain vitamins too - which is why it's important to talk to a doctor first.

But! As you can tell by this drawing, vitamin D is a bit of a special case. It's a vitamin that helps your bones, teeth and muscles stay healthy, among other things.

Now vitamin D can be found in food such red meat, fatty fish and egg yolks. But most of your vitamin D is created through a chemical reaction in your skin when you are exposed to sunlight. So in spring, summer and early autumn, most people will get all the vitamin D they need just through sun exposure. But in many places the sun is not strong enough during winter for your body to make vitamin D. The body does store vitamin D, which means that your sun exposure during summer can partially cover up your winter needs. But it might not be enough. This is why the NHS writes that "Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter".

And yes, you can get too much vitamin D too. Like I said: don't trust a random deviantart post from a guy who isn't even a health professional. Talk to a doctor, find some good guidelines from professionals. And take care of yourself.

(Sources: The National Health Service of the UK and The Swedish Food Agency).

Description
This is the 11th part of my project "The Robots' Guide to Winter Depression" - an illustrated guide on how to get through the dark winter months and handle seasonal affective disorder. If you happen to speak Swedish, you'll find the original guide on my instagram: www.instagram.com/joensoderhol…

Tip number 11 - Get enough vitamins
Vitamins and minerals are nutrients that your body need to stay healthy. If we don't get enough of them, our bodies may suffer in different ways. Deficiency of iron or B12 may lead to tiredness and lack of energy for example.

Usually we get all the vitamins we need through our normal diet, but there are exceptions. If you are unsure, speak to your doctor to check if you risk having any vitamin deficiencies and need supplements. Please remember that it's possible to take too much of certain vitamins too - which is why it's important to talk to a doctor first.

But! As you can tell by this drawing, vitamin D is a bit of a special case. It's a vitamin that helps your bones, teeth and muscles stay healthy, among other things.

Now vitamin D can be found in food such red meat, fatty fish and egg yolks. But most of your vitamin D is created through a chemical reaction in your skin when you are exposed to sunlight. So in spring, summer and early autumn, most people will get all the vitamin D they need just through sun exposure. But in many places the sun is not strong enough during winter for your body to make vitamin D. The body does store vitamin D, which means that your sun exposure during summer can partially cover up your winter needs. But it might not be enough. This is why the NHS writes that "Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter".

And yes, you can get too much vitamin D too. Like I said: don't trust a random deviantart post from a guy who isn't even a health professional. Talk to a doctor, find some good guidelines from professionals. And take care of yourself.

(Sources: The National Health Service of the UK and The Swedish Food Agency).