Vitamin D, also known as the Sunshine Vitamin, is produced by sun rays through the skin. During winter, not only does the sun tend to get shy, but colder temperatures can discourage even the bravest of us to step outside when it’s shining. With the days becoming shorter, we end up not getting the Vitamin D our body crave so much. In fact, in more than 70 countries positioned north of 35°, no Vitamin D is produced during the winter months. This concerns most of Europe, including the UK. This year, the situation is made worst by lockdown restrictions, as the government advises staying home as much as possible. This is because ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which your body needs to produce Vitamin D, can’t get through glass windows.
This can easily lead to Vitamin D deficiency, whose symptoms include : tiredness, aches and pain, and a general sense of not feeling well; severe bone or muscle pain or weakness and getting sick or infected often. It can also be responsible for depression and anxiety; impaired wound healing and hair loss. A new study by the University of Georgia associates low Vitamin D levels with greater risk of seasonal affective disorder.
Seasonal Affective Disorder :
Seasonal affective disorder impacts a lot of us during fall (especially when it starts getting dark out at 4pm). It can last all through spring. SAD symptoms include sleepiness, difficulty with concentration, depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, weight gain, lethargy, decreased libido, craving carbohydrates and hyperphagia. In most cases, those symptoms can be significantly lessened by taking Vitamin D complements.
Vitamin D complements :
Taking complements throughout the year not only prevents deficiency, it also has a positive effect on the body and mind. Vitamin D is important for normal growth and development of bones and teeth, and improves resistance against certain diseases. It can help reduce the likelihood of developing the flu and reduces depression. Indeed, it plays an important role in regulating mood, and boosts weight loss.
Few foods contain Vitamin D naturally, hence the importance of taking supplements, especially during winter. The recommended intake is 1000 – 4000 IU a day if you aren’t being exposed to the sun. However, supplement tablets found in drugstores are only available in smaller doses and taking pills everyday throughout the year isn’t particularly convenient or affordable. A more efficient way to ensure you get all the Vitamin D you need would be to receive an annual intramuscular Vitamin D injection. Those contain between 150,000 and 300,000 IU of Vitamin D, which is enough for an entire year.
At Beauty Infusions London, you can get a Sunshine Drip containing 200,000 IU of Vitamin D for just £99, or a slightly higher dosed one at 300,000 IU for £120, making sure your body gets all the Vitamin D it needs to get you through the year in a more affordable and convenient way. If you too have been feeling the exhaustion that comes with winter, this is your solution! Get in touch with us to book a treatment and experience the wonders of Vitamin D.
