Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder and the Winter Blues
As winter approaches, it means shorter days and less sunlight. This seasonal change can bring on symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which affects about one in 20 Americans.1
SAD is a form of depression—with symptoms that can affect daily functioning—and is prompted by shorter daylight hours during the winter. It’s different from the “winter blues,” in which cold weather and limited sunlight can bring on feelings of sadness or decreased interest in activities.
How Vitamin ADK2 Supports Mood and Mental Health
You can counteract these symptoms with a combination of vitamins AD and K2 (ADK2).
When you take vitamin ADK together, the magic really happens! These vitamins are said to work together synergistically. This means that when you combine them, they do their thing and deliver even better results! The positive effects each vitamin can offer are enhanced and amplified when taken together.
5 Benefits of Taking Vitamin ADK2 Together
1. Longer Lifespan and Overall Longevity
Studies have shown that a combined deficiency in vitamins D and K2 increases your risk of dying from all causes by as much as 42–46%, showing just how important it is to keep your intake of these vital vitamins where it should be. Decent levels of D and K2 are crucial for maintaining your cardiovascular health. When you consider that coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, it makes sense that supporting your heart health with the right supplements could help prolong your lifespan. Taking vitamin ADK2 together increases its potency and helps to provide even greater cardiovascular protection.
2. Better Cardiovascular Wellbeing
As well as helping you make it to a grand old age, this magical vitamin combo also helps keep your cardiovascular health tip-top so that you can stay active, fit, and well for as long as possible. Research shows that taking vitamins A, D, and K2 together is associated with improved blood vessel flexibility, better metabolic function, and lower inflammation. They can also lower blood pressure and help reduce, and even reverse arterial calcification.
3. Improved Bone Health
Vitamin D and K2 are both a must for healthy bones because they help your bones attract calcium. Lower blood levels of both vitamin K2 and D are associated with lower bone density and increased fracture risk, so it’s essential not to have a deficiency in either. Vitamin A also plays a key role in improving bone health because it helps the osteoblasts (bone-building cells) in your body. By taking vitamin ADK2 together, you’ll heighten the effects of these bone-boosting nutrients even further, to keep your body strong. Plus, when you take Vitamin A, your D needs to increase too, yet another reason to take them together.
4. Vitamin ADK2 as an Anti-Inflammatory Powerhouse
During the COVID pandemic, vitamin D3 got a lot of airtime for its anti-inflammatory benefits. But did you know vitamin D3 needs vitamin A to bind to vitamin D receptors to enable it to work its anti-inflammatory magic to its full ability? If you take vitamin D3 without A, you might not be getting the full benefit.
Taking this vitamin combo is an excellent idea for moderating chronic illnesses driven by inflammation and can be particularly effective for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis. These conditions can affect how well your gut absorbs nutrients, so by taking ADK2 together, not only will you potentially reduce your symptoms by lessening inflammation, you’re also providing your body with the nutrients it needs for recovery.
5. A Balanced Immune System
Fed up with constant colds or living with an autoimmune condition? Vitamin ADK2 combo could help. Vitamin D3 is essential for regulating immune function, which makes it an ace choice for anyone with autoimmune issues. But if you add vitamin A into the mix, you could support your immune system even further! Vitamin D3 and A work together to regulate when and how immune cells develop and respond, depending on what’s going on with your health.
And when you take them together, they are also excellent for boosting the health and diversity of your gut microbiome. Given that many chronic illnesses are linked to ‘leaky’ gut or imbalances in gut bacteria, this could be your first step in tackling the root cause of your wellbeing concerns.
Learn More About Vitamin ADK2 at Doctor’s Nutrition
To learn how vitamin ADK2 can help you survive the winter blues and thrive, get a FREE Consultation with one of our doctors (D.C) here.
