Vitamin D & Calcium

The NHS recommends that everyone over the age of 4 should take 10 microgram vitamin D supplements during autumn and winter.

This is because we usually get vitamin D from sunlight hitting our skin and when the lovely British weather kicks in in the colder months it can be harder for us to catch those rays.

Although you can get vitamin D from your diet, it’s not the easiest vitamin to get enough of, which is why daily supplements step in to help.

If you’re someone who isn’t exposed to a lot of sunlight in general, you can take a vitamin D supplement all year round to help keep your levels up.

To answer this question properly, we need to understand that Vitamin D is a type of vitamin, rather than the vitamin itself.

Vitamin D is used when we talk about Vitamins D3 and D2, which are slightly different from one another.

The main difference between the two is that Vitamin D2 comes from plant sources and Vitamin D3 comes from animal sources (e.g. cod liver oil, egg yolks).

Vitamin D3 is also created in your body when sunlight hits your skin, which is why the NHS advises Brits to take vitamin D supplements during the winter months.

If you buy Vitamin D or a multivitamin with Vitamin D included, the nutritional table on its packaging will let you know whether you’re getting Vitamin D2 or D3, so if you need one, in particular, this is where you’ll find the information you need.

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Vitamin D is also known as the sunshine vitamin, as it is created by the body when our skin is exposed to direct sunlight.

We can also receive it by consuming certain foods, such as:

• Oily fish, such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel
• Red meat
• Liver
• Egg yolks
• Fortified foods, such as some breads and breakfast cereals
• Vitamin D is important, as our body requires it for maintaining both physical and mental health.

It helps to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, as well as helping our body to absorb calcium to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

Our bodies require vitamin D from birth, to ensure our bones are strong and to promote healthy development.

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Milk provides much more nutrients than just calcium alone.

It includes protein, B vitamins like B2 and B12, and minerals such as phosphorus, potassium and iodine.

Calcium supplements are an option if you struggle to consume an adequate amount of food and drink that are rich in calcium, or if you have a disease like osteoporosis.

Calcium helps to build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

Most people get enough calcium through their diet, but certain people may benefit from taking a calcium supplement.

If you’re elderly, you’re more likely to be at risk for fractures and osteoporosis, so if you’re not getting enough calcium in your diet, you may benefit from taking a supplement.

Vegans and those who are lactose-free are also at risk of a deficiency as calcium is typically found in dairy products and fish.

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If your child doesn’t like milk, a supplement may be a good alternative to ensure that they’re developing as they should.