Which Vitamins?

[kloofnek]

I don`t get out very much and read someplace about which vitamins to take when one does not get enough natural daylight.
Could any of you kind posters point me in the right direction.please.

[Sqad]

Try Googling ....Vitamin D.

[pastafreak]

Vitamin D3...
there are tests you can get to see what your levels are...but most of us in this country need to take a fairly high dosage for several months in order to have proper levels.

[Old_Geezer]

Don't think you need too many hours exposure. I don't sunbathe for hours and haven't caught rickets yet. Go for a short walk each day, get the sun on your face, should be enough surely.

[pastafreak]

O_G is correct...but as we rarely get week after week of unbroken sunshine here,it's virtually impossible for most of us to get enough.
And forget this time of the year....

[LazyGun]

Not sure I would agree that "most of us need to take a fairly high doseage for several months" to have proper levels.

Whether you are or will become deficient in Vitamin D or not is very much dependent upon your diet, and exposure to sunlight - but it does not need to be strong sunlight, and it does not have to be a large part of your body or a long period of exposure in order for the body to synthesise the Vitamin D that is required. Bare arms in a cloudy sky for around 15 minutes a is probably sufficient, depending on ethnic origin.

It is true to say that there is certainly much review and debate going currently over what should constitute a normal level of Vitamin D in the blood.

The Chief Medical Officers recommendations in the UK are that pregnant women take regular vitamin D supplements. Children 6 months - 5 years, unless feeding on infant formula.People over 65, and people who get very little exposure to the sun ( from cultural clothing etc)

Taking Vitamin D as a routine supplement will not harm you, but it is debateable how much benefit you will see, unless you are in one of the highlighted at risk groups.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/...alasset/dh_132508.pdf

Personally, I think vitamin D the only vitamin supplement I might consider taking, simply because minimum levels are still open to debate, I do not get as much sunshine as I used to, and an excess of vitamin D is not harmful.

[kloofnek]

Thank you all...as a rule I only go out twice a week when shopping is necessary and then it is only ten minute wait for bus(if car not available),if not it is: car to store-store to car.After reading an article in the newspaper,I realise that I probably do not get enough natural daylight..hence the vitamin question.So I am off to buy some.

[worrier]

My mum was diagnosed with Vit D difficiency and was told to get as much sunshine as she could, she also got pills from Dr. I would get yourself checked out, my mum had to have a blood test.....Hope this info is helpful to you.

[Maydup]

Would it be possible for you to go out for a short time on the other days kloonek? If only for a bus ride there and back?

[askyourgran]

I have osteopiena (sp) and was given VitD and Calcium tablets in various forms by my doctor but I'm allergic to them. I'm advised to drink milk and eat cheese (dairy foods) to make up for it. I do try to get out into sunlight when I can. A healthy diet should suffice, I love fruit and vegetables, at the moment trying to cut out the butter and sugar.

[kloofnek]

I often make a promise to myself to take a short walk every day,I live near a canal which has lots of swans and ducks on it ...and barges.
So I thought would take some bread ,feed the birds...little walk...did it just one day..just cannot find the time.
Plus ,a few years ago I was mugged whilst out...not hurt..my bag was snatched.. but it left me very nervous to go out alone
This is a shame as it is a lovely walk along the canal bank ..also have a park a few minutes away which has a pond with wildlife in it..

[nannybooby]

Vitamin D3 ,you only need 20mins of sunlight a day Kloofnek ,its v important as a lack of vit D can affect your bone density, and we all know where that leads.

[Matheous-2]

As far as I'm aware vit D also helps protect you from many other illnesses and raises your mood during the winter grey days....