Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D, nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” is one of many vitamins your body needs to stay healthy. Vitamin D is mostly made in the skin by exposure to sunlinght.
Vitamin D is essential for several reasons – it helps with strong bones, teeth and muscles and it’s also great for supporting your overall immune system.
Sun exposure is the best natural source of vitamin D. Short bursts of sunshine will help your body produce vitamin D, so spending a few minutes in the sun during the summer months in Ireland is the best way to get it.
Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important for the development of healthy bones, muscles and teeth.
There have been some reports about vitamin D reducing coronavirus risk (COVID-19), but there is currently insufficient evidence to support this claim.
Source of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is naturally present in a few foods. Good food sources of vitamin D are:
- Oily fish, such as salmon and sardines
- Eggs
- Fortified fat spreads
- Fortified breakfast cereals
- Powdered milk
If you’re not often outdoors, or during the autumn and winter months, when there isn’t enough sun for the body to make vitamin, a vitamin D supplement can help you keep your vitamin D within normal levels.
Vitamin D Dosage
How much vitamin D do you need?
Taking 25 micrograms or less a day of vitamin D supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
We have a large range of vitamin D supplements such as talbets, capsules, liquids and sprays in Higgins Pharmacy Sligo in-store or online.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Some people are at risk of having a low vitamin D level:
- People who cover up their bodies completely when going outside
- Older people who don’t get outdoors much
- People who avoid the sun
- Women who are pregnant
- Babies being breastfed and whose mums have low levels of vitamin D
- People with certain conditions which affect vitamin D metabolism
- Vitamin D deficiency can also occur in people taking certain medicines.
If you are concerned with your vitamin D level, speak with your doctor, or with one of our friendly team members here at Higgins Pharmacy Sligo.
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