We all know that vitamin D is an important nutrient for a myriad of reasons. While vitamin D can be found in a few different foods such as oily fish, eggs and mushrooms, approximately 80% of vitamin D intake for most people is from the sun.
As the seasons change and we move into winter, sunlight is often lacking as the days get shorter and shorter. Compounding this effect, most people spend less time outdoors in winter, opting to stay warm and cosy inside. Having less sunlight as well as reduced time outside means that during winter, it becomes more important to consider vitamin D levels.
Some factors which bring even higher risk of vitamin D deficiency include living in residential care facilities, having reduced mobility, or even living in southern regions of New Zealand where there are less hours of sunlight. Think about the difference in the weather between Auckland and Dunedin!
Why is vitamin D important?
Although the sun might be disappearing, our need for Vitamin D does not. Vitamin D is an important nutrient to support immune health. It enables the body to absorb minerals such as calcium which is essential for bone health, especially in women. Vitamin D also supports heart health which should be top priority in the winter months when ills and chills are rampant.
Which vitamin D supplement to choose?
Eating the right foods is a great place to start to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D, but a high-quality supplement can take the guesswork out of the equation. Lester’s Oil and Lester’s Oil Advanced contain 1000 IU (international units) of Vitamin D3 per serving. Unlike vitamin D sources from fruits and vegetables, these won’t go off in the fridge or wilt within a week. Instead, be ready and waiting in your cupboard each day to support your health and wellbeing goals this winter.
