Most of us know what our vitamin D levels are regulated usually by the sun. Getting a few good rays a day can be very beneficial to your health.
However, rarely do we take into consideration what happens when we move into the autumn and winter months where not only do we tend to stay inside much more but the days are shorter.
There’s less chance of grabbing some sunshine on the commute to and from work and we’re less likely to spend time outside.
A survey by health company BetterYou has revealed 1 in 5 people across the U.K. are likely to be suffering the effects of low vitamin D levels in their body.
According to the government it is recommend that everyone take a vitamin D supplement of at least 400IU to support bone and muscle health. This is because during the autumn winter months, we struggle to make vitamin D from the sun and can’t rely on dietary sources – unless you plan on eating 7 eggs or 12 packs of cheese a day!
Of the people surveyed by BetterYou nearly three-fifths (59%) suffered low levels during the darker months.
Signs of vitamin D deficiency can manifest in common health conditions such as constant coughs and colds, tiredness and fatigue, seasonal affective disorder, poor bone and tooth health and low mood. But how do you know what your levels are?
Whilst it is possible to request a test from your doctor, more often than not you will not only have to wait on the appointment but if your doctor decides you don’t need tested there isn’t a lot you can do.
To mark Vitamin D Awareness Week (VDAW 23-29 October 2017) BetterYou Have teamed up with the NHS to distribute its vitamin D home test kit. The kit costs £28 and is available from www.betteryou.com/vitamin-d-testing-service.
All purchases of the testing kit with automatically be sent a free easy use on the go daily vitamin D oral spray. The spray is fast-absorbing and suitable for the whole family.
The DLux range is priced from £5.95 and is available from Holland & Barratt, all good health food stockists and online at www.betteryou.com.
There is also a promotion through selected independent heath stores and wholesalers of 20% off the DLux range throughout October, including its brand-new Vitamin D + K2 oral spray.
Vanessa Conroy, 39, suffered from low mood, anxiety and constant tiredness before she tested her levels and found out she was vitamin D deficient.
She said: “Before people rush to their GP with symptoms of depression, they should get their vitamin D levels checked – I wish I had known about the test service and the DLux spray sooner.
“The DLux spray was easy to use, tastes really good and was no hassle at all. Supplementing vitamin D this way is a far more effective method of managing the symptoms and does not have any of the severe side effects that medication does.”
Andrew Thomas, founder and managing director of BetterYou added: “Many of us don’t like pill popping – we can find them difficult to swallow and are restricted to when we can take them. Supplementing using an oral spray is convenient and offers superior absorption straight into the bloodstream via the inner cheek.”
A study published in The Nutritional Journal showed that vitamin absorption via an oral spray is 2.5 times more effective than vitamin capsules.
For more information or to join the conversation use the hashtag #VitaminDAwarenessWeek and @VDAW_UK or go to www.vitamindawarenessweek.co.uk
Vitamin D Home Test Kit betteryou.com/vitamin-d-testing-service (£28)
DLux3000 (3000IU for adults) betteryou.com/dlux3000 (£7.95)
DLux1000 (1000IU for small adults/teenagers) betteryou.com/dlux1000
(6.95)
DLuxJunior (400IU for children aged 3+) betteryou.com/dluxjunior (£6.25)
DLuxInfant (400IU from birth to 3 years – coconut oil based) betteryou.com/dluxinfant (£5.95)
DLuxPregnancy (1000IU vitamin D3 along with the recommended 400mcg of folic acid, 6mcg of vitamin B12 and 100% of the guidelines daily amount of vitamins K, B1 and B6) betteryou.com/dluxpregnancy
(£9.95)