of weak-boned, lethargic zombies during the
winter. Yes, the reason you feel constantly tired,
sad and full of aches and pains during the colder
months is all down to your body’s inability to
produce enough Vitamin D to keep things
ticking over. And if you thought you could
store all the hours of sunshine you enjoyed
during the summer in that comforting layer of
fatty tissue keeping you warm on a chilly day,
he last time exposing your bare, unprolike a squirrel getting ready for hibernation,
tected skin to the sun’s UV rays seemed
you’d be wrong.
like a good idea was back in the 1960s
Our bodies can’t store enough Vitamin D to
when everyone wanted to look bronzed and
see us through the many dark winter months
beautiful like Bridgitte Bardot, regardless of
so without regular
the consequences
top-ups, our
and potential
Our body produces Vitamin D when
natural levels fall
long-term skin
the skin is exposed to UV rays
dangerously low
damage, but that
leading to brittle
was the advice
bones, weak muscles, headaches, low moods,
doled out by government officials and experts
heart disease, a poorly functioning immune
mere months ago during the summer.
system and even memory loss.
New research revealed what most of us secretUsually, the skin only needs around 15 minutes
ly thought; that the lack of sunshine in the UK
of unprotected UVB exposure to generate
during the winter was having a detrimental
enough Vitamin D to see us through an average
effect on our health. The only difference was,
day (although this can take up to a few hours
we weren’t thinking specifically about Vitamin
for those with very dark skin) but as UV rays
D. We were blaming our rubbish mood and
are generally less intensive during the winter,
aching joints on the frosty weather and our
even an unexpected sunny day will do little to
ever-dwindling bank balance.
improve your Vitamin D levels.
Unlike dehydration or lack of sleep, the effects
The best option is to take an oral Vitamin D
of not getting enough Vitamin D are less nosupplement. Look out for ones that contain
ticeable. Our body is designed to produce this
Vitamin D3 as their main ingredient, as this is
vitamin when the surface of the skin is exposed
the same type of
sans sunscreen to
the body
ultraviolet light
Lack of Vitamin D is the reason you feel vitamin
produces when
(most notably
tired, sad and full of aches