A new survey by British Nutrition Foundation has revealed that half of Britons are unaware of the UK’s Government guidelines for vitamin D supplements.
Given as most of us aren’t getting as much sun exposure as we need currently (hello winter), many of us are falling short in vitamin D (with the main source of this coming from direct sunlight). Lacking in vitamin D can result in a deficiency, with some of the main symptoms of this including:
- Brittle hair and nails
- Muscle weakness
- Bone pain
- Mouth ulcers and bleeding gums
Although you can get vitamin D from foods – mainly oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines), eggs, red meat and some fortified foods like cereals, the best way to boost our vitamin D levels are through supplements.
Government advice currently recommends everyone to take a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement from October to March to support your health.
As a result of increasing your vitamin D intake, you should notice a host of improvements to your mood, immune system and bone health.
Vitamin D supplements can be purchased from most pharmacies and when choosing your supplement, you will want to make sure the dose is 10mcg (micrograms) – this may also be advertised as 400 units, for optimum benefits.
Read the full report by the British Nutrition Foundation here.