Get the most out of this winter by optimising your vitamin D level to improve your immunity & mood

It has been a long “battle” between alternative health practitioners and Government bodies (NHS) to raise the threshold for vitamin D. This has recently happened! Hurrah!! This issue has received much publicity through the media in recent months and we are slowly moving in the right direction, with nutrition increasingly considered of greater importance to our health within the NHS and the wider population.

The vitamin D deficiency is so common that almost every 5th person is borderline deficient. In clinical practice, the following conditions are observed with low vitamin D: low immunity, tiredness, diabetes, eczema, psoriasis, cancer, poor bone density, early tooth decay and people prone to low mood/depression.

Do you have any of the above symptoms? If yes, perhaps testing your vitamin D level would be a good starting point.

Before supplementing with Vitamin D, one should complete a blood test in order to understand the level of deficiency. The tests can be taken free of charge at the GP or can be purchased online and completed at home for under £30.

If you already know your vitamin D level, this chart can help you to understand your daily requirements, in order to arrive at an optimal level (between 100 and 150nmol/L).