Winter signals Vitamin D deficiency

With the colder months now upon us, winter fast approaching and the shortest day of the year now not too far away, it certainly seems that sunshine is in short supply. This may be bad news for our health as sunshine is needed to make Vitamin D in the body, which is necessary in helping to maintain bone structure and for the normal absorption and utilisation of calcium. Unfortunately, much of the UK’s population is thought to have a Vitamin D deficiency, even during the summer months as we try to protect our skin from the damaging effects of the sun. However, the winter months is a particularly important time to ensure high Vitamin D levels, as it is thought that the ‘sunshine vitamin’ may help to protect against winter flu.

Vitamin D can be obtained through diet from food sources such as fish, eggs and milk, as well as other foods fortified with Vitamin D, but sometimes that can still not be enough and many people find a daily supplement of Vitamin D is much more convenient. Of course, everyone gets some of their Vitamin D intake from the sun – but increasing your sun exposure to boost your Vitamin D levels is not a good idea due to the potential risks to your skin which far outweigh the benefits of additional Vitamin D. Experts suggest that a focus on eating Vitamin D rich foods and an intake of a good Vitamin D supplement is the best way to boost your levels. 

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