Hey Friends,

Today I want to let you in on a little secret.  There are 3 super potent vitamins that are crucial for our health and wellness yet we often overlook them… Can you guess what they are? The answer may surprise you. 

I’ll give you a clue: they are all around you, don’t cost a dime and are accessible at any time of day…

That’s right! I’m talking about nature, fresh air and sunshine!

Are you wondering why am I talking about nature, fresh air and sunshine as vitamins? Isn’t nutrition and nourishment only about food? Here’s the scoop…

We are so conditioned to think that vitamins are only in food or something manufactured in a lab and labeled that we need to purchase in a bottle at a store that we forget to open our eyes and look all around us. Vitamins are everywhere!

Nature itself is a multi-vitamin world but it’s often the last thing we turn to for our vitamin fix simply because we are not conditioned to think of it as… nutritious. But it is… so hand with me while I go into more detail…

So what are my 3 most underrated yet most potent vitamins?

1. Vitamin N = Nature

2. Vitamin FA= Fresh Air

3. Vitamin S = Sunshine

Have your ever been outside feeling the sunshine on your face and your breath calmed and your shoulders relaxed? Or been on a hike in the woods and just felt this sense of peace and calm and joy of just being? I know I have and I have made it a point to add in NATURE time to my weekly self care routine. Even just a 10 minute walk on a greenway or getting outside to sit on the back deck or in the yard to just breathe does so much to help us reconnect and lower not only our stress, but get us back in tune with our circadian rhythms. Yep. It’s true. 

Did you know that instead of exploring the great outdoors the average American spends most of their time stuck in stale offices and dark living rooms? 

Even kids today spend 7 hours more on academics and 2 hours less on sports and outdoor activities per week than they did 20 years ago. What happened to playing in the woods and building forts and staying out with the neighborhood kids until mom called you in for dinner? This new technology age is having devastating consequences on our health. 

Research shows that children who get more “vitamins N, FA and S” have lower stress levels, more success in school, and fewer ADHD symptoms. And adults who exercise and socialize more in nature are happier people all round.

I know that’s true for me. I feel alive, connected with life and more peaceful when I spend time in nature. And my kids do too! Just last weekend we went to one our state parks for a walk. I took 2 of my 3 boys and we went on this beautiful 3 mile hike around a lake and through the woods. We talked and my heart sang as I watched my boys, age 12 and 17, pic up sticks and play sword fight, chase each other and laugh and play. I felt my body soften as I watched the light streaming through the trees and could smell the leaves and earth of the forest. It was such a simple gift and one that creates and “experience” of living fully for me and my kids. 

So how else does bing in nature nourish us? We all know that simply being in sunlight triggers our skin to make vitamin D, also known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’. Research has linked low vitamin D levels with depression, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, osteoporosis and cancer.

To make sure you have enough Vitamin D, be sure to get at least 15-20 minutes outside WITHOUT sunscreen. Why? Because sunscreen (high and low SPF factors) prohibits the body from making vitamin D by 95 %.

So in light of all this it is so important to get outside and get lots of nature (VITAMIN N), fresh air (VITAMIN FA) and sunshine (VITAMIN S)—these are super potent forms of food for our bodies!

How can I get more Vitamin N, Vitamin FA and Vitamin S?

• Make outdoor adult play mandatory—splash in puddles, throw snowballs, pack a picnic or catch fireflies.

• To avoid the typical 3pm slump, take a 10-15min walk outside and drink in fresh air instead of coffee.

• Try gardening! Getting your hands in the dirt is actually good for you—there’s a strain of bacterium in soil—Mycobacterium vaccae—that has been found to trigger the release of serotonin, which in turn elevates mood and decreases anxiety. No wonder kids already know that digging deep in dirt makes them happy!

 

• Move your kitchen outside—fire up the grill and make fun creations such as fruit kebabs, or if you have kids, let them personalize meats by brushing on sauces before cooking.

 

• Sleep under the stars—even if camping without a bathroom isn’t for you, you can pitch a tent or put up a hammock in your backyard!

 

• Schedule it in on your calendar to spend an hour on the weekend going to a green way or a park. 

 

• Take a family trip to one of your state parks. It’s one of our great treasures. The picture above is from a favorite trail of mine that i just discovered. It’s called the Balsam Nature Trail in Mount Mitchell, North Carolina. It smells like Christmas and is filled with Balsam and Spruce trees. It’s magical. 

 

What do I do now?

Get some  vitamin FA, N, and S on your calendar and enjoy!

Having a hard time fitting it in?

If you want to talk more with me about fun ways to get more of these natural, abundant and potent vitamins in your life, then click here now to schedule a time to chat. We will create some action steps to get your feeling alive and free and filling your cup so you can give from fullness rather than depletion. 

Keep SHINING on!

Chris