Vitamin D…
We can get most of the vitamin D we need from the sun. It is made by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. During the winter months this can be difficult to achieve and therefore it is vital we are able to obtain enough sun exposure (safely) when the weather is good, or that we obtain it from the diet.
Vitamin D and the gut…
There is a lot of evidence suggesting the benefits of the gut microbiota in supporting the immune system. Emerging research highlights a link between vitamin D and the importance in gut health and gut homeostasis.
Great sources of vitamin D are:
- Oily fish
- Eggs
- Fortified foods such as fat spreads and cereals
There are a number of people who are more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency. These include:
- Pregnant and breast feeding women,
- Young children
- People over the age of 65 years.
- Those who are unable to get any sun exposure, through covering up their skin when outside or by being housebound or confined to indoors for extended periods of time.
- Individuals with darker skin
Hopefully we are set for a sunny week. However, please do take care not to over expose the skin to the sun – cover up and protect the skin with sunscreen. Do not let the skin burn!