Your blood results show that you are slightly low in vitamin D (vitamin D insufficiency).
Vitamin D is important in keeping our bones healthy, our muscles working properly, our immune system functioning normally as well as many other important roles in the body.
Increasing your vitamin D
Our body makes most of the vitamin D we need from sunlight, but through the winter months when there is not much sun, it is important that we get vitamin D from our diet. You can do this by eating healthily and choosing the right foods.
Vitamin D rich foods:
- oily fish – mackerel, sardines, salmon
- red meat
- eggs
- it is also added to some cereals and some spreads
Vitamin D supplements
Most of us will benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement through the winter, but this is especially important when your vitamin D is low. You should take a supplement containing 25 mcgr (1000 IU) of vitamin D. This is available without prescription from your pharmacy.
Get out as much as possible when the sun is shining*. Going for a brisk walk in the sunshine contributes towards your recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week (60 minutes a day for young people aged 5-18), improves your mental and physical health, helps you sleep better, strengthens your bones and muscles as well as boosting your vitamin D!
* In the summer, you should take care to avoid sunburn which increases the risk of skin cancer.
If you can’t get outside, then it is even more important that you take a vitamin D supplement throughout the year and get plenty of vitamin D in your diet.
Please see the link below for more information
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
If you have any questions about this advice or need any further help taking these important steps to better health and well-being, please contact the surgery to speak to a GP.
