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Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, and the winter immune system


Vitamin D and the Winter Immune System

Do you take Vitamin D during the Autumn and Winter months? You may want to do so to try and strengthen your immune system, as well as feel healthy during those days when the light levels are low.



Why is Vitamin D important?


Not having enough Vitamin D can cause a large list of symptoms, as Vitamin D has numerous functions in the body. Vitamin D:

  • Helps regulate the amount of Calcium and Phosphate within the body

  • Keeps bones, teeth, and muscles healthy

  • Supports immune, brain, and nervous system health

  • Helps to regulate insulin levels


How does sunlight affect the Vitamin D levels in your body?


When your body gets Vitamin D from the sun, it turns Vitamin D into a hormone, called Calcitriol. Calcitriol is what your GP would measure to assess your Vitamin D levels. Calcitriol is needed to absorb calcium from the gut into the bloodstream and is important to your overall health and well-being.


During the Autumn and Winter months, the sun’s rays may not be strong enough (depending on where you live) to produce Vitamin D.




How can you get enough Vitamin D in Winter?


During Autumn and Winter, try to go out for walks and get as much fresh air (and hopefully sunshine!) as you can. However, sometimes, you will not get enough Vitamin D just by doing this.


So you may want to use a Vitamin D spray. Also try and eat food that is high in Vitamin D. Foods include:

  • Fatty fish, such as salmon, and seafood (or you can take Cod Liver Oil, which is high in Vitamin D)

  • Mushrooms

  • Egg yolks



How does Vitamin D affect the immune system?


The role that vitamin D has on the immune system is complex because the immune system has to be perfectly balanced. If there is too much stimulation, an autoimmune disease can begin. If there is not enough immune system activity, infections can occur. More information on the effects of Vitamin D on the immune system is on the National Institute of Health website.


The Harvard School for Public Health published an article showing the importance of Vitamin D and the immune system. A study was done on Japanese schoolchildren taking daily Vitamin D supplements. Findings - those children who took the Vitamin D pill were much less likely to get flu than those who had placebo pills.


 

Is homeopathy for you?

Homeopathy is used all over the world for so many health issues. Whether you have a big health issue that is stopping you from getting on with your life, or niggly health 'annoyances', feel free to contact me if you think I may be able to help.



Next steps

If you would like to speak to me about how homeopathy may help I offer a free 30 minute discovery call. During this call, we talk about you, your symptoms, and how they are affecting you. I will ask you some questions to see if homeopathy may be beneficial to you.


I am always happy to hear from you.


Naziana x



Homeopath for Women's Health


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