Let the sunshine in
Despite its name, vitamin D is actually a hormone rather than a vitamin, explains Dr Shireen Kassam, a consultant haematologist and certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician. ‘It has receptors throughout the body and performs many roles – including gene regulation, which is why a deficiency increases your risk of many cancers, autoimmune diseases and infections.
‘Having enough vitamin D is also thought to improve brain development and function.
‘During summer, the sun’s UVB rays are strong enough to enable your body to make vitamin D – though you need to expose your arms, legs and back of neck (SPF-free) for 15 minutes a day if you’re fair-skinned, and 30 to 45 minutes a day if you have darker skin.
‘Your body stores the vitamin D that it makes – but its supplies decline between October and March, due to weaker sun rays. So, even with additional food sources, we should all take a daily 10mcg supplement through winter.
EASY AS 1,2,3…
When you’re choosing a supplement, always look for one containing vitamin D3, says nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville. ‘Vitamin D3 is 87% more effective in raising and maintaining vitamin D levels than
Be supplement savvy
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