Let's talk: Vitamin D

Let's talk: Vitamin D!

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones. We need vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium and phosphate from our diet. These minerals are important for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. A lack of vitamin D can cause bones to become soft and weak, leading to pain and bone tenderness.

It’s also believed that Vitamin D can be useful for reducing depression and boosting weight loss. Scientists now speculate that Vitamin D may help in our battle against COVID-19. The NHS is offering Vitamin D supplements to those who are at high risk from coronavirus. Click here for more information.

It’s reported that as many as 1 in 5 suffer with Vitamin D deficiency, with lockdowns potentially making this statistic even worse, as people stayed inside more during the spring and summer months of 2020. Usually, from late March/early April to the end of September, the majority of people get all the vitamin D they need just from sunlight on their skin. If you spent plently of time in the garden or going for daily walks, the chances are you likely already have enough vitamin D already.

Though our body naturally creates vitamin D from sunlight, we can also get vitamin D from certain foods, which is vital over the darker, winter months.

You can find Vitamin D in:
- Oily fish
-  Red meat
-  Eggs
-  Breakfast cereals
-  Fat spreads

According to the NHS, babies up to the age of 1 year need 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day, where as children from the age of 1 year and adults need 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day. If you worry you're not getting enough vitamin D, please talk to your doctors for guidance. 

More information on vitamin D can be found here: NHS vitamin D.