While health has always been important, supporting our overall wellbeing is something that many more of us are thinking about these days.
Vitamin D is needed to maintain normal teeth and bones, for the normal functioning of our muscles, the process of cell division around the entire body and the normal function of our immune system.
The UK Department of Health now recommends that everybody takes a daily vitamin D supplement of 10ug (400IU) to contribute to the maintenance of normal bones and muscle function.
Our body is able to synthesise Vitamin D when we get enough UV rays, but it can be difficult to get enough direct sun every day to ensure we have sufficient stores of Vitamin D.
While many of us are staying indoors so much more, we might not be getting enough Vitamin D from sunshine exposure, so taking a Vitamin D supplement has never been so important.
Vitabiotics, the UK's No. 1 vitamin company, has pioneered Vitamin D supplements suitable for the entire family, including the UK’s favourite Vitamin D, Ultra-Vitamin D , for those looking for more than the standard 10ug.
The Vitabiotics range also includes Wellkid Peppa Pig Vitamin D soft jellies for children and Wellbaby Vitamin D Drops for infants and babies.
Vitabiotics is also proud to be supporting front-line NHS workers with supply of its Ultra vitamin D including staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts. The support has been extended to not only cover staff at key hospitals like these, but all 5,300-frontline staff of the London Ambulance Service and other services across the country.
What does Vitamin D do?
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is essential in maintaining normal bones and teeth.
It is needed to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate absorbed in the body and how it is used.
Calcium is essential not only forming and maintaining bones and teeth, but in the healthy functioning of our muscles, the process of cell division around the entire body.
Importantly, vitamin D is now understood and proved to be vital for the normal function of our immune system.
Remarkably, for older people, it seems Vitamin D also plays a role in our fundamental stability as studies have shown that taking 20µg or more of Vitamin D daily helps to reduce the risk of falls resulting from postural instability and muscle weakness in those over the age of 60.
How can I get it?
There are three main ways – the sun, through certain foods or through supplements.
Often known as the 'sunshine vitamin' our body is able to synthesise Vitamin D when we get enough UV rays through sunlight.
However, it can be difficult in the UK to get enough direct sun to ensure we have sufficient stores of Vitamin D.
This is especially true as the UV rays needed for us to make Vitamin D can not, in general penetrate through glass windows, so even if the sun is streaming into your home, office or car it will not help.
And while sunlight is a great way to keep your Vitamin D levels up, it is important not to expose yourself to too much direct UV rays due to the increased risk of sun damage to the skin and other risks.
Also sunscreen will limit vitamin D production, though it remains important to use a SPF suncream if you are planning to be out in the sun for any length of time.
It is possible to get Vitamin D through your diet, however the levels contained in foods are very small, and it can be really hard to obtain adequate amounts this way alone.
However it is worth considering adding these healthy, and Vitamin D containing foods into your diet if you don't eat them already; oily fish, mushrooms, red meat and liver and egg yolks.
In addition to a healthy balanced diet, an easy and recommended way to make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D, is to take a daily supplement.
Taking a quality daily supplement is a great way to ensure you are getting the vitamin D your body needs
In fact in 2016 Public Health England released official guidelines that adults and children over 5 years should consider taking a daily supplement of 10µg of Vitamin D every day, especially during the autumn and winter.
In light of many of us now spending more time indoors, in 2020 the NHS website is now also recommending all of us consider taking Vitamin D each day.
However not all supplements on the market are the same quality, and the amount of choice can leave us confused.
So what is the best form of Vitamin D to take?
Ultra Vitamin D 1000IU and 2000IU provide the highest grade D3
There are in fact two types of Vitamin D generally provided in supplements; D2 also known as Ergocalciferol, and D3 or Cholecalciferol.
Vitabiotics Ultra Vitamin D 1000IU provides optimum strength and 2000IU extra strength Vitamin D in one tiny sized convenient daily tablet.
It provides the British Pharmacopoeia quality Vitamin D3, which is preferred over D2 which is found in some supplements, meaning that you can be assured your body is able to make the most of the sunshine vitamin boost you are providing it with.
Both Ultra Vitamin D 1000IU and 2000IU do not contain any preservatives or artificial colours, they are both vegetarian, lactose free and are not tested on animals.
Vitabiotics Ultra Vitamin D provides premium D3 so whether you choose the optimum strength 1000IU or extra strength 2000IU tablet, you can be sure that you are supporting your diet with a high quality supplement to help take care of your bones, muscles and immune system.