This week has been quite a shock to the system – who would believe the weather would change so dramatically after such a fantastic summer…the temperatures must have dropped at least 15 degrees overnight. However, with the sun shining almost every day for the last 10 weeks, as long you have spent a good deal of time outside enjoying the rays, whether walking, on the beach, gardening or just pottering to the shops, your body will have absorbed plenty of Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin as it is produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight. It helps our bones absorb calcium and can protect against osteoporosis and muscle weakness. Studies have also shown that Vitamin D has a significant impact on our immune systems and therefore the body’s ability to fight infection, which is all important as we go into the winter and the dreaded flu virus and common cold start to lurk! Research is now showing that there is a link between low levels of Vitamin D and some chronic conditions such as heart disease, stoke, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and some cancers.

Good levels of Vitamin D are also important for improving sleep and for reducing the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD usually kicks in when the clocks go back and we wake up to dark mornings and the nights close in. SAD makes you feel very down, with poor energy levels. You might find it hard to get up in the morning and some people can feel really depressed. You may crave carbohydrates too, which compounds the feeling of lethargy. So why does Vitamin D make us feel happy too?

Vitamin D supports serotonin and dopamine production – I call them the ‘happy hormones’ as they are integral to our feelings of happiness. Most antidepressant medications work by modulating serotonin and dopamine activity in the brain, so absorbing plenty of this wonderful vitamin during the summer months is vital to protect ourselves against the effects of SAD by ensuring our brains can produce sufficient serotonin and dopamine throughout the winter.

So if the sun isn’t shining, we can get Vitamin D from the following foods: oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, trout), dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt), eggs and mushrooms. If you find it difficult to include these foods in your diet on a daily basis, it would be wise to take a Vitamin D supplement. Do be supplement savvy though….there are lots of supplements on the market, including supermarket brands, which contain very little of the essential element/vitamin and are combined with cheap fillers, such as calcium carbonate (chalk), so the reality is your body cannot absorb them well. It is always a better option to buy from a proper health shop and follow the dosage instructions provided. Greens Health foods in Rectory Grove, Leigh, sells high quality supplements from supplement companies which are renown for their health research.

Diana Herve BSc Hons, BANT, CHNC, BTLLS

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