Welcome to our seventh Health Tip Wednesday recap! Here you will find a few details on the vitamins that keep us strong and vivacious, as showcased in December 2023 on our social media pages. You will also discover the benefits of wintry weather, because it turns out, there actually are a few to note. Check out the fun yet informative quasi-exploration below.

A thru K, Part 1

Do you know the vitamin alphabet? It’s not as long as the alphabet you’re used to, but it’s teeming with important nutrition to keep us moving each day. Here we take a quick glance at the first handful of vitamins and describe their respective roles. As always, consult a healthcare professional for questions about diet.

Vitamin A accomplishes a lot by helping form and maintain healthy teeth, bones, soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin. Sources include eggs, carrots, and mangoes. 

Vitamin B is especially essential and a true heavyweight in the nutrition arena, as it is actually a collection of 8 water-soluble vitamins consisting of: Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12. These are all responsible for supporting a range of actions throughout the body including heart function, having healthy nerve cells, body growth, the production of red blood cells, brain function, the production of hormones and cholesterol, in addition to so much more. Examples of food containing these vitamins are fish and non-citrus fruits for Vitamin B6, while Vitamin B12 can be found in poultry and milk. 

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant that promotes healthy teeth and gums. Additionally, it assists in the body’s absorption of iron, supports healthy tissue, and is crucial for wound healing. Examples of food sources are citrus fruits, tomatoes, and potatoes. 

A thru K, Part 2 

The following presents the remaining vitamins in the vitamin alphabet, each with their distinct ability to support our well-being and humanness. 

Vitamin D is also known as “the sunshine vitamin” because it is made by the body after being in the sun. Ten to 15 minutes of sunshine 3 times a week is usually enough to produce the body's requirement of vitamin D for most people. 

People who do not live in sunny places may not make enough vitamin D. It can be difficult to get enough vitamin D from food sources alone. Vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium, which you need for the normal development and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones. This vitamin supports proper blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, as well. 
  
Vitamin E is an antioxidant also known as tocopherol. It helps the body form red blood cells and use vitamin K. 

Vitamin K is needed because without it blood would not coagulate normally. Some studies suggest that it is also important for bone health. 

Winter Weather Benefits 

Frigid temperatures often receive a frost reception. Though staying warm may be the goal for many throughout the wintry season, these potential upsides to the cold may help melt some of that dislike away. 

Allergies 

Cold weather may help lessen the effect of outdoor allergies, as the pollen count is usually much lower than in warmer months. 

Cognition 

Lower temperatures can help increase your brain power. Summer months require more overall use of glucose, needed for cognitive processing, than in winter. Exercising in the cold could help sharpen your thoughts. 

Defense 

Cold weather may assist in lowering inflammation, the potential for infection, and the onset of certain diseases, as all three often need warmth to develop. 

Rest 

During warmer months, it can take a while for the body to lower its core temperature as you sleep. But when it’s chilly out, the process takes far less time. This helps encourage better rest. 

 

We hope you found the above equally beneficial and revealing. Check out our other recaps with Health Tip Recap #4 - September 2023, Health Tip Recap #5 - October 2023, and Health Tip Recap #6 - November 2023 for further wellness details. We wish you joy and good health this and every year!