Enjoy Food

Whilst most of the UK spends more time indoors, either distancing or working from home, it’s imperative to make sure you’re still getting enough vitamin D. Health & Bodycare team member and qualified nutritionist from Planet Organic’s Queen’s Park branch, talks us through the importance of vitamin D and
Organic’s Queen’s Park branch, talks us through the importance of vitamin D and explains why we need it, how we get it and how best to introduce vitamin D supplements into our daily routines. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and hormone. Almost all human cells contain vitamin D receptors, thus its functions are widespread. The action of vitamin D is unique in that it can influence our genetic material. Evidence suggests that vitamin D regulates up to 200 key human genes.

Vitamin D exists in two forms, vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Animal dietary sources contain vitamin D3, whereas plant dietary sources contain vitamin D2. “The Sunshine Vitamin” UVB sun rays convert provitamin D (cholesterol) present in human skin into vitamin D3. Thus, vitamin D is also referred to as “the sunshine vitamin”.