The Sunshine Vitamin.

When the British Industrial Revolution occurred in the 18^th century many people saw this as an opportune time to leave their country life to go to cities for employment.  Once there,  however, the widening use of machinery meant they now had to breathe coal hazed air that just let the sun shine through and their daylight hours were taken up working indoors on factory floors.  Because of this rickets and osteomalacia became rampant.  In rickets there is a weakening of the bones due to poor mineralization, causing children to look bow legged.  In osteomalacia, the adult form of rickets, the limbs look okay but bones are soft and way too flexible. They are both ultimately caused by a vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D is made by the sun shining on the skin but it was quite evident through environmental circumstances that these 18th century people were not getting enough.  These days there should be no excuse.  We should all be getting enough vitamin D. This, however, is not proving to be the case for vitamin D deficiency is becoming more prevalent, especially in children who do not play outside; people who work inside and do not spend lunchtimes in the fresh air;  increasing pollution; and the practice of covering the skin with clothes and sunscreens so that the rays of the sun do not touch.

Vitamin D has been linked to many illnesses such as depression, osteoporosis, and cancer, so it is important that everyone gets a good dose of vitamin D.  With lifestyle factors making this difficult, manufacturers can now include a synthetic form of vitamin D in some food products.  The synthetic form is made from animal products, such as lanolin, which is irradiated so that vitamin D is formed: and this is put into foods to fortify them- foods such as milk, margarine, orange juice and cereals; and in multivitamins.

Sounds tasty, but the best way of boosting vitamin D levels is to let your body do the work as you relax and let the sun shine on your skin.  So...in preference to taking supplements, I think I will continue to get my vitamin D from the sun when the UV index is low but only until my skin begins to show even the slightest tinge of pink - especially if this involves socializing with friends over a nice sparkling wine and gourmet speciality foods whilst I sit in my flower filled garden with birds singing everywhere.  And this, I  think I will never tire of.