
In modern times, in industrialized countries, serious
deficiency in children has been eradicated, but a shocking 25% of the UK
population does not have adequate stores of vitamin D in their body (during
winter months). The problem is worst in the most vulnerable in our community –
pregnant, elderly and young children, but this is still an important issue for
most people.
So what are the
effects? – the best reasons to top up this summer.
Bones:
Vitamin D is the main gatekeeper for calcium in your body. Too little and your
body starts stripping your bones of calcium. This is the cause of osteoporosis
and osteopenia (bone pain and weakness that can effect even adults!)
Brain:
Vitamin D has effects on the brain. There is growing research into vitamin D
and mental health through the lifespan from Schizophrenia to depression.
Cancer and
diseases: Low vitamin D levels linked to Cancer, Heart disease, diabetes
and general immune health.
95% of the vitamin D in your body is due to the sun,
while vitamin D is present in foods (oily fish, eggs, and fortified cereals)
these are not an important as what you do in the next few months.
The rule of thumb for vitamin D and sun
- The season needs to start with an S (that’s spring and
summer)
In countries that are at a higher
latitude (that’s close to the north of south pole), the angle of the sun during
winter means that the UV rays that your body uses to make vitamin D is filtered
out. So the warmer summer months are the only time you can create and store
your own vitamin D
- You should have a short shadow
The middle of the day, when the
sun is above you the UVB rays will be at their strongest. At this time, your
body will create a good amount of vitamin D with just 15 minutes exposure to 5%
of your body.
The lesson here is, you don’t have
to sunbath, you don’t have to burn and you don’t need to be an
outdoors-sort-of-person to get enough vitamin D. So when your outdoors for a
long time sunscreen and hats are a great ideal to protect against damage to
your skin, but 15 minutes outside at lunch will do a lot to top up your vitamin
D ready for the long winter, which is really a famine in terms of this key
vitamin.
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