![]() The problem is that even when we eat the right foods, those foods are unlikely to contain enough vitamin D to make up for the lost sunlight. Instead, unless we're taking supplements, we get nearly all our vitamin D from the food we eat. From October to March, the ultraviolet light from the sun is not strong enough during the shorter, darker days to produce sufficient vitamin D levels. In the winter months we do need to think about our vitamin D production. However, Porter issues a word of caution over the recent attention given to vitamin D and COVID-19: "There has been a lot of interest in vitamin D during the pandemic but there is no evidence that vitamin D reduces the risk of coronavirus." Porter explains: "Vitamin D has a key role in the normal function of the immune system and in bone, tooth and muscle health." Which is great news, as vitamin D is integral to our health. ![]() The amount of sunlight we get in the UK summertime enables most of us to produce healthy levels without having to think about it. The relationship between vitamin D production and sunlight is simple the stronger the sunlight, the more vitamin D our bodies make. Unlike some other vitamins, we can make it in our body via the action of sunlight." "Even though we call it a vitamin, vitamin D is different because it is actually a hormone (a chemical messenger). "Everyone should try to spend some time outside daily in the sun whilst being sun-safe and avoiding burning." "Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin as the action of sunlight on skin outdoors produces vitamin D," says Sian Porter, dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association (BDA). So what happens to our levels of vitamin D, the so-called 'sunshine vitamin', over autumn and winter? Vitamin D and sunlight ![]() While there may be many aspects of autumn we enjoy, one thing that's not on the cards is enjoying much sunshine. It's that time of year where we once again swap our sunny summer activities for crisp autumnal walks and dark, cosy evenings in. ![]()
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