You may have noticed that Vitamin D has been a hot topic of discussion in the media at the moment with Public Health England (PHE) even recommending everyone to take a Vitamin D supplement throughout summer due to lockdown meaning that most of us are staying indoors a lot more than usual. But why do we need Vitamin D and where do we get it from?
According to the NHS, Vitamin D is needed to regulate calcium and phosphate in the body which is imperative for bone, teeth and muscle health. Not getting enough Vitamin D may result in you being more susceptible to getting ill and if left untreated, can lead to a slew of health problems.
With our lack of sunshine in the UK, it’s estimated that up to a quarter of the British population are not receiving the Vitamin D they need. And now, with us just having come out of lockdown and encouraged to stay home, it’s even harder to make sure we get our daily dose of Vitamin D.
Get outside!
The best source of Vitamin D is, you guessed it, sunlight! As we’re coming into our warmer months, make sure you get outside for at least 15 minutes per day to soak up some rays.
Doing outdoor activities that are active such as gardening and walking, will help boost your Vitamin D levels and now that it’s Summer and we’re allowed to get out and sunbathe in the park, it’s the perfect time to soak up as much Vitamin D as we can get!
Remember to wear sunscreen if you’re in the sun for more than 15mins.
Eat the right foods
Although very few foods are rich in Vitamin D, there are still some nutritious ways to increase your Vitamin D uptake.
Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel as well as eggs are good sources of Vitamin D. Milk, soy drinks, bread and cereals may also be fortified with Vitamin D.
Take a supplement
PHE has recently recommended that Brits take a Vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms per day and with a lot of different supplements on the market, it’s worth doing your research and finding one that suits you best.
Oral supplementation is a popular way to get your Vitamin D and there’s a wide range of options available such as capsules, tablets or gummies. However, it should be noted that as little as 10% of the nutrient in oral supplements is absorbed into the bloodstream. This could be to a range of issues such as gut absorption issues and may even be down to your DNA.
For those of you that aren’t a fan of swallowing tablets, Vitamin D is also available in spray and liquid form as well.
And finally, Get A Drip also offers Vitamin D Booster Shots which are delivered via an IntraMuscular shot into the muscle in the arm. The benefit of this method is that your entire month’s dose of Vitamin D is delivered straight into the bloodstream, bypassing the gut, ensuring 100% bioavailability.
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To find out more about Vitamin D, or to book your Booster Shot, visit www.getadrip.co.uk or find us on Instagram @getadrip!