At about this time of night, I have my 'night cap'. My late night snack consists of a cup of milky tea and a vitamin D3 pill, as I am one of many Australians living in this sunny land, who is Vitamin D deficient and that is with a slight tan and taking a little more risk of sun exposure minus sun screen, in order to strive to get my adequate Vitamin D levels.
Yes I believe in the 'slip slop slap' sun smart message but I am also striving to achieve a balance and I get some daily sun exposure onto 15% of my body, morning and late afternoon when the suns rays are less likely to cause damage.

Since I have found out I am Vit D deficient both my daughter and a neighbour have been tested and they too have inadequate levels of this important vitamin.

So my 'useful tip', today is to suggest that next time you are having blood tests done, don't assume that tan and an outdoor life means you have adequate Vit D absorption, ask to have it checked out. It might save your bones and help with a few allergies.
Since I began taking supplemental Vitamin D3 my general health has greatly improved.  A word of caution, don't take Vit D 3 supplements if you do not have evidence that you need to and excess Vitamin D in the body is toxic. 

Allergies are linked with a deficiency of vitamin D.


Vitamin D link

Dr Mullins says that any connection between latitude and food allergies suggests that allergies are linked with a deficiency of vitamin D.

Now more testing needs to be done to check if children who have food allergies also suffer from a vitamin D deficiency.

"We know that vitamin D plays an important part in bone and muscle health. If you don't have adequate levels in childhood you get rickets and deformed bones," Dr Mullins said.

"In adults you get soft bones and more frequent broken bones and fractures.

"But there's recent evidence that low vitamin D may also play a role in other conditions like multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cancer, that sort of thing and in the last couple of things allergic diseases as well."

But Dr Mullins cautions against over interpreting the study. While some Australians do not get enough vitamin D he says the research is not a reason to abandon the sun safe message.



Kneed sunshine? Scientists find link to healthy joints Feature

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 Kathy Shell Artist – Kathryn Shell Author Kathryn Shell is a published non-fiction and fiction author currently working on an Australian Novel.
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