Episode 35: Vitamin D—Why You Need More Than You Think

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Episode Summary
Vitamin D is often thought of as “just a bone vitamin,” but the truth is it’s one of the most powerful regulators in your entire body. It acts more like a hormone, influencing your metabolism, immune system, brain, muscles, and long-term risk for chronic disease.

In this episode of Lifestyle School, Hope unpacks everything you need to know about vitamin D: why deficiency is so common in North America, what the latest research—including COVID studies—tells us about outcomes, and how to optimize your levels through sunlight, food, supplements, and smart testing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why vitamin D matters for more than bones: immunity, mood, blood sugar, inflammation, and muscle strength
  
  


• The surprising role vitamin D played in COVID outcomes and what it taught us about immune resilience
  
  


• How your body actually makes vitamin D from sunlight—and why latitude, skin tone, and season matter
  
  


• Which foods contain vitamin D and why diet alone usually isn’t enough
  
  


• The difference between vitamin D2 and D3, and why D3 is the form you need
  
  


• Why pairing vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 and magnesium is essential for safety and effectiveness
  
  


• What “insufficient” and “deficient” levels look like in U.S. and Canadian lab testing
  
  


• The truth about the 37th parallel (San Francisco to Richmond, VA) and why winter sun north of that line won’t cut it
  
  


• Myths about vitamin D you can finally stop believing—like whether showering after being outside washes it off
  
  


• The difference between conventional and functional medicine ranges (why 30 ng/mL is “fine” by your doctor, but 50–80 ng/mL is optimal)
  
  


• The best way to test your vitamin D levels, including the at-home finger-prick kit I offer for convenience

Why This Episode Matters

Most people in North America are either insufficient or deficient in vitamin D, and the health consequences are real. From higher infection risk to increased inflammation, poor metabolic control, and lower mood—low vitamin D quietly undermines health in ways most people don’t connect.

The good news? Once you know your number, you can fix it. Strategic sun exposure, targeted supplements, and pairing D3 with K2 and magnesium can help you move into the optimal range where your body thrives.

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Get your at-home Vitamin D finger-prick test kit here. Use code 104567 to create an account.
  
  


• Follow me on Instagram: @hopeplackcoaching
  
  


• Learn more about Lifestyle School for Weight Loss