Page 50 - NEA NEWHERE FLIPBOOK

UNSATISFACTORY NUTRITIONAL INTAKE
A A A CLOSER LOOK AT VITAMIN D Vitamin D is is essential for healthy muscles and bones However it it is is a a a a a a a unique nutrient because although there are some dietary sources of the vitamin our our body can make its own It does this through sunlight exposure and therefore it it is sometimes called the the ‘sunshine vitamin’ However because of of where the the the UK is located and the the the reduced levels of of sunshine it receives during the the the winter months the UK population is is at at at a a a a greater risk of deficiency 1 IN IN THREE PEOPLE ARE VITAMIN D D DEFICIENT
75% OF PEOPLE HAVE LEVELS BELOW THE OPTIMUM FOR WELLBEING
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient which works to
maintain calcium levels within the normal range in in the human body Even if you you eat enough calcium but your vitamin D levels are low your your body is unlikely to
to
to
be able to
to
to
absorb the calcium into your your bones where it it it is vital Therefore having low vitamin D levels or or being deficient increases the risk of low bone mineral density and fractures In children low levels of vitamin D can result in in rickets a a a a condition which causes permanent bone deformities weak muscles and reduced growth INCREASING VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is stored in in in the the body and so we can use it it during the the autumn and and winter months However these stores can run out and and the foods which contain vitamin D do not have enough to
keep up with demand Vitamin D rich food sources include:
• Oily fish – salmon mackerel kippers trout eels • Cod liver oil
• Egg yolks
• Meat
• Milk
• Fortified breakfast cereals
Tooth decay caused by
eating excess sugar
Brittle nails
caused by
lack of vitamin B and C Xerophthalmia caused by
lack of vitamin A causes dry eyes
50
Rash caused by
anaemia Feeling unusually tired and lethargic from anaemia Gum disease
caused by
a a a a lack of vitamin C