Boost your Vitamin D levels this Summer!
Find out your Vitamin D levels
Most of us have heard of Vitamin D. It's the sunshine vitamin, also found in oily fish, cheese and mushrooms. It's crucial for maintaining your overall health, but here's some things you might not know about Vitamin D....
What is Vitamin D and why do we need it?
Vitamin D is both a prohormone (precursor of a hormone) made by our bodies, and a nutrient found in certain foods. Its key role is to help regulate the amount of phosphate and calcium in the body, which is needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Adults who have lower levels of Vitamin D may develop osteomalacia which causes bone pain.
Additionally, Vitamin D is needed to support normal lung function as well as immune, brain, cardiovascular, and nervous system health. In relation to mental health, often people experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or depression, are found to have a lower level of Vitamin D.
Where do we get Vitamin D from?
Throughout spring and summer, we usually can get enough Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight directly on our skin. However, in the autumn and winter the government advises that we take Vitamin D supplements. One in six adults in the UK have Vitamin D levels lower than government recommendations (Gov UK). The current advice is for all adults and children to consider taking a daily 10 micrograms supplement of Vitamin D between October and March. Some at-risk groups are advised to consider taking a supplement throughout the year.
You can have too much of a good thing
People can have too much Vitamin D, otherwise known as ‘Vitamin D surplus’, which usually stems from taking too many supplements. Taking more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of Vitamin D per day can be harmful to adults (including women who are pregnant or breastfeeding) and children between 11 and 17 years old.
Are you interested in finding out your Vitamin D levels?
As it is not standard medical practice to screen people for Vitamin D, it can be difficult to get your levels tested unless you suffer from serious associated health complications.
At Bluecrest, we offer essential energy profile health checks starting at £159, including a Vitamin D (25-OH) test. The Vitamin D (25-OH) test measures the level of Vitamin D (25-OH) in your blood to help identify deficiency or overload.
