Vitamin D supplements can keep bones strong – but they may also have other benefits to your health: Our ability to make vitamin D declines in the winter. Anetlanda/ Shutterstock Most of us don’t worry about getting vitamin D when the weather’s warm and the sun is shining. But as winter approaches, accompanied by overcast …
Brussels sprouts have as much vitamin C as oranges – and plenty of other health benefits: Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock For many people, Christmas dinner is not complete without a side helping of brussels sprouts. Indeed, they are Britain’s favourite Christmas dinner vegetable. But if you’re not a convert, perhaps these health benefits will convince you to …
Uganda’s efforts to address vitamin A deficiency miss the mark: Matooke has been the subject for vitamin A biofortification. Robin Nieuwenkamp/Shutterstock Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness. It also increases the risk of death from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea. There are several ways to fight this public health …
Vitamin D2 and D3: what’s the difference and which should you take?: Vitamin D3 is found in fish, cheese, and eggs. Cegli/Shutterstock Vitamin D is important for maintaining health, as it has many roles in the human body. But there is more than one form of vitamin D, and recent research suggests that these forms …
Vitamin D supplements may reduce the duration of the common cold: After a couple of years of mask-wearing, social distancing and hand sanitising, the common cold is back. And – according to some people – back with a vengeance. Some are calling it a “super cold” – others, “the worst cold ever”. Fortunately, there may …
South Africa in the news: Vitamin D deficiency is a global health issue for the black community, finds new study from the University of Surrey: New research from the University of Surrey has recommended that people from the African-Caribbean community should consider increasing their consumption of vitamin D rich foods and taking additional …: “South …
How to make COVID vaccines more effective: give people vitamin and mineral supplements: simplystocker/Shutterstock If we’re going to rely on COVID-19 vaccines to bring an end to the pandemic, we need to maximise their effects. But one thing that risks undermining their protectiveness is nutritional deficiency, particularly in the elderly. Older people have weaker immune …
Time to add some sunshine (vitamin D) to milk and bread: Krakenimages/Shutterstock Free vitamin D supplements will be sent to over two million clinically vulnerable people in England this winter. Over 80% of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 are vitamin D deficient compared with the general population. In a small study, a high dose of vitamin …
Why COVID makes it more important than ever that pregnant (and breastfeeding) women take vitamin D: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock Vitamin D, often known as the “sunshine vitamin”, is normally obtained through exposure of our skin to the sun. The Department of Health recommends that everyone in the UK should take a supplement of vitamin D during the …
Vitamin C could help older adults retain muscle mass – new research: Muscle mass is important for maintaining health and being active during older age. Liderina/ Shutterstock As we get older, our skeletal muscle mass, strength and power to move gradually decline, which may lead to a condition called sarcopenia. Sarcopenia affects more than 50 …
Think vitamin D deficiency is not common in Africa? Think again: Exposure to sunshine for a few minutes is enough to provide sufficient vitamin D. GettyImages The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, and the number of diseases associated with it, seems to be increasing worldwide. Africa is known to have a huge burden of disease, …
Does vitamin D ward off coronavirus? Don’t reach for the supplements yet: Iakov Kalinin/Shutterstock It has been suggested that taking vitamin D may protect people from getting COVID-19. But should we be using supplements to ward off the virus? We need to separate fact from fiction. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining overall health, especially …
Get your dose of ‘vitamin sea’ this National Marine Week: National Marine Week from July 29th to August 13th offers endless opportunities to smell the seaweed, savour the sound of lapping waves, whilst searching for wild treasures around our shores If you're in need of some Vitamin Sea, National Marine Week from July 29th to …