Take Vitamin D Supplements
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in the strength of our teeth and bones, but it’s also crucial for a healthy immune system. It has ‘immunoregulatory’ properties which means that it helps to regulate the immune system.
It does this by helping to activate the immune response when it detects an invader such as a virus to then fight the virus. Vitamin D also supports the function of certain cells of the immune system called the T cells and a type of white blood cell called a macrophage. Low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections such as Covid-19, flu and RSV.
Unlike most other vitamins, we don’t get the majority of our vitamin D from our diet. Instead, the body manufactures it when our skin is exposed to the sun. Therefore, during the autumn and winter months, many of us become deficient in this important vitamin and therefore our immune systems can become less efficient.
For this reason, the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care recommend that all adults take a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement from the beginning of October to the end of March. It’s also recommended that those who cover the majority of their skin when outdoors or those that don’t spend much time outside due to illness or incarceration, take 10mcg of vitamin D each day all year round.
Also Read – Vitamin D: Health Benefits, Sources and Supplements
