Vitamins are so important for keeping us healthy but we hear a lot about the importance of D Vitamins – so why are they so essential?
What Does Vitamin D Do?
According to the NHS, Vitamin D ‘helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body’ which translates into what we often hear as being the purpose of vitamin D which is to strengthen our bones, teeth and muscles, keeping them healthy.
There are varying types of Vitamin D but the actual type of Vitamin D you get doesn’t particularly matter as they all contribute the same benefits to the body.
How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?
Compared to other nutrients we need to be healthy, the amount of vitamin D we need daily is a lot lower as it is measured in micrograms, a unit that is 1000 times smaller than a milligram.
Babies under the age of 1 need 8.5 to 10 micrograms of Vitamin D a day and it is recommended that as children of this age aren’t always on solids, they are given a supplement containing their full daily requirement.
Anyone aged 1 year or older needs 10 micrograms a day and for children aged up to 5, it is recommended a supplement is given for the full daily amount to ensure they get it.
Adults and children can suffer from vitamin D deficiency, particularly in autumn/winter, so the NHS do recommend considering a supplement during these months.
What Are Good Sources of Vitamin D?
The best source of Vitamin D is sunlight and in the spring/summer months where we have more daylight than darkness, most people can get the quantity of vitamin D they need from being out in the sunlight alone.
However, there are times of the year where the sun doesn’t provide us with what we need or if you have an indoor job, you may also need to make diet changes to get more vitamin D.
Despite many believing dairy is a viable source of D vitamins, it actually isn’t here in the UK as most of our cow’s milk is not fortified, so there is actually only a small list of foods that are reliable sources. Oily fish, red meat, livers and egg yolks are all known sources of vitamin D, whilst some spreads and cereals will promote being fortified with the vitamin, in which case they are a good choice too.
Vitamin D Supplements
As mentioned above, the NHS recommends all children under the age of 5 should be taking a vitamin supplement and for children over 5 and adults, a supplement is also recommended during the darker months.
Supplements can come in all forms, including tablets and gummies but one of the easiest ways to get a boost of vitamin D is with a spray. The Bodyline Clinic Vitamin D3 Spray can be used by adults every day to increase their intake and also aid with health and weight loss.
Our vitamin spray increases bone, hair and teeth strength as well providing increased immunity, reduces blood pressure and regulates insulin levels, as well as helping you avoid symptoms of D vitamin deficiency such as low mood which can lead to comfort eating.
Vitamin D is integral to a healthy lifestyle and hopefully, you now have all the information you need to make sure you’re getting enough!
