Description
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin produced naturally by the body upon exposure to the sun, which is why it is often referred to as the sunshine vitamin. It can sometimes be difficult to meet the required daily allowance from sunlight and food alone, particularly in the colder Winter months when the days are shorter. Vitamin D is vitally important for the proper function of the immune system in both adults and children, helping you to feel healthy and protected from the environment on a day-to-day basis. Our immune systems are our first line of defence against infection and disease and a deficiency in vitamin D can lead us to be more susceptible to falling ill. Vitamin D helps to reduce infection by binding to key receptors in the body which help promote an immune response. Vitamin D plays a very important role in the health of our bones. Without vitamin D our bodies cannot effectively absorb Calcium from the food we eat, which is essential to ensuring strong bones. It also ensures the correct renewal and mineralisation of bone. Vitamin D and its receptor are important for normal skeletal muscle development and in optimising muscle strength and performance. It helps to keep muscles strong and therefore reduces the risk of falling.
