Getting some fresh air during the day isn’t only beneficial for our mental health, it also gives us a much-needed dose of vitamin D, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy immune system and a range of other biological functions.
There are so many different types of vitamins and minerals required by our body, it’s hard to keep track of how much of what you’re getting in through your diet. Maintaining a healthy diet has become even more difficult these days considering the current circumstances.
It’s hard to even go out these days to get groceries, let alone for a walk or a jog, which might make you wonder how much vitamin D (if any) you’re getting every day. According to government rules, leaving the house unnecessarily is strictly forbidden, which makes it harder to get your daily vitamin D fix.
According to Dr Michele Sadler, we need vitamin D all year round to maintain good health. A small dose of sunshine can go a long way in fulfilling this requirement in order to maintain healthy bones and immune system.
And having a healthy immune system is even more important now when the world is fighting a fierce battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Research has shown that those with a strong immune system are less likely to fall prey to the virus’ deadly symptoms even if they do get infected.
Vitamin D is one of the many essential compounds with immunity-boosting properties that we need in our daily life. It’s so essential for our health that the public health department had to change its guidelines during the pandemic and increases the daily recommended amount for vitamin D to 10 micrograms.
Unlike other essential nutrients, vitamin D isn’t found in just natural food sources. Our body has its own mechanism for producing the essential vitamin when exposed to direct sunlight.
The UVB radiations from the sun are one way to get your daily vitamin D fix, but if you don’t have access to it, there are plenty of substitutes such as synthetic supplements and some nutrient-rich foods.
Oily fish, like mackerel and salmon, is one of the few foods abundant in vitamin D. Eggs, fortified milks and cereals are also high in this essential nutrient. If you don’t have access to any of these vitamin D-rich foods, there are plenty of supplements on the market in the form of syrups, tablets, gummies, and drops.
