D is for very DESIRABLE

It’s time to top up your vitamin D. Here’s how to maintain levels of this vital nutrient throughout the winter

- KAREN EVENNETT

Let the sunshine in

Despite its name, vitamin D is actually a hormone rather than a vitamin, explains Dr Shireen Kassam, a consultant haematologist and certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician. ‘It has receptors throughout the body and performs many roles – including gene regulation, which is why a deficiency increases your risk of many cancers, autoimmune diseases and infections.

‘Having enough vitamin D is also thought to improve brain development and function.

‘During summer, the sun’s UVB rays are strong enough to enable your body to make vitamin D – though you need to expose your arms, legs and back of neck (SPF-free) for 15 minutes a day if you’re fair-skinned, and 30 to 45 minutes a day if you have darker skin.

‘Your body stores the vitamin D that it makes – but its supplies decline between October and March, due to weaker sun rays. So, even with additional food sources, we should all take a daily 10mcg supplement through winter.

EASY AS 1,2,3…

When you’re choosing a supplement, always look for one containing vitamin D3, says nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville. ‘Vitamin D3 is 87% more effective in raising and maintaining vitamin D levels than

Be supplement savvy