Why You’re Not Getting Enough Vitamin D

Over half of the UK’s population are vitamin D deficient and up to 90% of multi-ethnic groups in Britain aren’t getting enough of this vital mineral. This week marks the official Vitamin D Awareness Week, and it comes right on time as it coincides with the clocks going back and days getting shorter.

It’s not a huge shock that many of the population don’t get appropriate supplies of vitamin D, the integral element is mostly absorbed from sunlight, which is hard to come by with our unpredictable weather these days. On top of that, some of us make our way to work in the dark, sit in an office and then make our way home when the sun has gone down. Modern patterns and weather changes are preventing many of us from soaking up all of the vitamins we need.

How Important is Vitamin D?

It’s not a vitamin to underestimate; it’s responsible for keeping our bones healthy, hormone regulation and for the health of our brains. It has also been linked with cancer prevention and other benefits for our overall health. Yet, according to the BBC, half of the white population in the UK are deficient, 90% of the multi-ethnic population are, and a quarter of all children living in Britain. With statistics like that, it’s no wonder that we now have a week dedicated to the cause, vitamin D deficiency is no joke and there are many ways for us to try and prevent this. Soaking up the sun promotes bone growth with the vitamin enabling our bodies to make complete use of calcium and phosphate.

Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

There are number of signs and illnesses that could mean that you are under-supplied on vitamin D. The following signs signify that we could need a bigger intake of this imperative mineral.  

You feel down

An important hormone of ours is serotonin, which associated with our happiness. When our vitamin D levels are low, so is our mood. When we don’t get enough sun exposure, it can lead to depression.

Weak or aching bones

As previously mentioned, a lack of vitamin D can result in little absorption of calcium and subsequently impact our bones. If you feel aches and pains in your bones then you should visit your GP.

Gut trouble

A leaky gut is something that many suffer but they ignore many of the signs. Bloating, diarrhoea and IBS are all signals that you may be suffering from a leaky gut. Vitamin D could help you combat this, it plays a part in 70-80% of our human immune system. So it’s important to respect the hormones role in our health.

Some are at more of a risk than others, those with darker skin, children and the elderly are more prone to a vitamin D deficiency, so it can be more important for some people to be more conscious than others.

How Can I Get Enough?

Recommended amounts

·       children and teenagers: 600 IU

·       adults up to age 70: 600 IU

·       adults over age 70: 800 IU

·       pregnant or breastfeeding women: 600 IU

·       although these figures are listed by here, whilst the NHS says that you should try to absorb at least 10mcg a day.

Food Sources

Obtaining your vitamin D solely from food sources isn’t a great idea, it’s always a strange one. The reason it is a peculiar subject, is the fact that if you consume red meat then you’re getting your vitamin D second hand after that animal has stayed out in the sun. You can also get vitamin D from mushrooms, oily fish and eggs. Save on your grocery shopping and enjoy an influx of nutritious foods with the help of our Sainsburys promo codes.

The Sun

Our number one priority when looking to up our levels, should obviously be the sun. Getting 5-10 minutes each day could be enough, during winter our levels drastically fall. The problem is, some of what we stated above. Britain just doesn’t get enough sun for us to fulfil our needs. Maybe you are looking for an excuse to travel abroad this year? Well, find some of amazing offers before it’s too late and utilise Thomas Cook promotional codes.

Supplements

This isn’t the ideal way and certainly isn’t what our ancestors did. But times have changed, and we could put that down to global warming or the depletion in our food. Either way, it calls for us to make some changes. Get vitamin D capsules, sprays and even mouth sprays. You should look for D3 when looking to use supplements for the most affect and also get money off Holland and Barratt vouchers.

You’ll be surprised with how many benefits vitamin D is responsible for, you can have your bloods done at the doctors and consult a medical practitioner to ensure your levels aren’t worryingly low.

 By Daniel Treasure, 25th October 2016