Thank you all for the lovely comments on two years blogging and my learning post.  I can’t wait to share more of what I’m learning with you!

Now onto Vitamin D.  {This post is sponsored by Eggland’s Best.}

It seems to be the newest vitamin on the block, no?

In my opinion, it’s finally getting the attention it deserves. Years ago (5-6) my Mom and I attended a Nutrition conference and I came home with a ton of new information, ideas, concepts, as well as a ground flax + oj morning shot habit and a slew of “bootlegged” Vitamin D Chocolate supplements. At the time, the USDA didn’t feel as though Vitamin D supplementation was really necessary, so the upper levels were very low at 200 IU’s.

Fast forward a few years and Vitamin D is everywhere, they’ve raised the RDA to 600 IU (still really low) and we are starting to realize just how important is. (Is it frustrating to anyone else that Nutrition seems to be constantly changing? It is why I will always focus on real foods and not the latest trend, news, diet, etc.)

Why is Vitamin D important?

• helps body absorb calcium and phosphorus
• helps deposit these minerals in bones and teeth
• helps regulate cell growth
• plays a role in immunity

How can we get Vitamin D?

• sun exposure (10-15 minutes in sun, no sunscreen, 3x weekly)
• dairy milk has been fortified with Vitamin D (100 IU per 8 oz)
• whole eggs (25 IU per egg, need the yolk!)
• salmon (up to 988 IU for wild caught salmon – 3.5 oz)
• sardines (240 IU – 3 oz)
• supplements

Obviously a combination of all of these is the best way to ensure that you are getting the Vitamin D you need. Salmon is a great source, but chances are you aren’t eating it every day, let alone every week so it is important to include whole eggs, milk (if you do dairy), sun and supplements.

How do you ensure you are getting enough Vitamin D?

I get my Vitamin D a number of ways. Eggs happen to be a favorite food of mine, and definitely what I eat most often. I love salmon, but don’t have it on a weekly basis and because I’m not a huge sardine fan and I don’t drink milk I also take a supplement. Clearly I’m not getting much sunshine, it is still below 30 degrees here in Minnesota!

Remember a while back I told you that I was overwhelmed with everything going on in life?

Well, there must have been something about turning 28 – yesterday!  Some desire to learn something, aquire new skills, participate in something new and exciting that I just couldn’t get out of my head.

(Cupcakes were also part of turning 28)

Last weekend  I signed up for a photography class. Then a photoshop class. (They go hand in hand you know.) And in the following 24 hours I got this “grand” idea that I should attend the upcoming Core Power Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training. You see, I’ve always wanted to be a yoga instructor (oddly enough even before I really got into yoga) and have been toying around with the idea of Hot Yoga Teacher Training for quite some time. Yoga sculpt involves significantly less time and money and I figure it will be the perfect intro to see if teaching yoga is for me. Plus, I can’t wait to teach some classes for the kids at camp.

So in the name of slowing down, I’ve been at yoga teacher training all weekend. It might just be what I needed…

Crazy? Probably a little.  But somehow I find a way to justify it.