D is for....
It's the sunshine of your life (among other things): Tanya Lee, nutritionist, natropath and founder of Horizon Nutrition Pilates in Surry Hills in Sydney gives us the lowdown on Vitamin D.
"As a vitamin, vitamin D is able to be made in the body, however in some circumstances it is necessary to obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D from food to prevent deficiency diseases. Vitamin D can also be classified as a hormone as it is produced in one part of the body and through the blood is carried to affect other parts of the body."
"The main role of vitamin D is to maintain serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations to assist neuromuscular function and bone density. This means it helps stabilise calcium and phosphorus levels in the body which creates stronger bones and muscles to function more optimally. It has also been found to assist in autoimmune conditions such as arthritis, osteoarthritis among others.”
“The best source of obtaining vitamin D is sunshine. It has been found that sunscreen blocks the conversion of vitamin D in the skin and therefore it is suggested to expose bare skin for around 15 minutes, three times a week to sustain vitamin D storage levels in the body. Supplementation can be administered, however practitioner brand and practitioner advice is recommended. One should not self-prescribe due to the chance of toxicity.”