The 'Sunshine' Vitamin ☀️

Spring is finally here 🌸 🪴  

So, we all lost an hour of sleep last night, but don’t fret, good things are on the way, we've got these to look forward to:

 

• longer days
• brighter evenings 🌅 
• warmer weather 🤞 

 

But that’s not what this blog is about. You may or may not know but between the months of October-March we are unable to utilise vitamin D from the sun. But as soon as spring hits (and our shadows shorten*) our bodies start optimising it again ☀️  

*when your shadow is shorter than you are, magic happens and you're able to utilise the sunlight for vitamin D production. 

 

 

What's all the fuss about? 

 

Think of vitamin D like the key ingredient in a delicious recipe. Just like a recipe needs the right amount of spices, herbs, and other ingredients to taste great, your body needs enough vitamin D to function properly and feel its best.

 

Without enough vitamin D, it's like a recipe missing a crucial ingredient. You might feel tired, achy, or even a little down in the dumps. But by getting enough vitamin D, you're adding the missing ingredient that brings everything together and makes you feel amazing! 🤩 

 

 

 

The sun is hands down the body’s best source of Vitamin D 

 

But like I said we can’t do anything with it in the winter months in the UK, no matter how hard we try. There’s a reason why the sun feels so GOOD beaming down on your face, your body’s cells will be jumping with joy, they know they’re in for a treat ☀️ When the sun shines down on our skin, it makes vitamin D from cholesterol. You see there is cholesterol in our skin cells and when the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays hits, it provides the energy for vitamin D synthesis to occur. The extra dose of vitamin D allows our cells to communicate, grow and flourish 🎉 Pretty cool huh? 

Now, I’m sure you’re thinking, “but how much vitamin D do I need?” or “how long do I need to be out in the sun before I’m topped up?” or “for how long will it last?” or “does it matter what time of day it is?” So, let’s get to it 👍  

 

 

 

Get out in the sun around midday 🕛  

 

Noon is when the sun is at its highest point, and its UVB rays are most intense. This means you don’t need as long in the sun to make sufficient vitamin D, this study from the UK found the body is most effective at making vitamin D at noon. But how much time should that be, the same study found that around 13 minutes of midday sun exposure during the summer months, 3 times a week was enough to maintain healthy levels in caucasian adults.

And remember the more skin you expose the more vitamin D your body can produce👙 🩳  

 

 

 

What’s a healthy level look like? 

 

The EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for vitamin D is 5ug, now while the NRV is a great reference you must remember the amount recommended is enough to prevent deficiency and we should be exceeding this amount for optimal health. This is why we include 25ug (500% DRV) in our Daily Immunity Drinks, and 30ug (600% DRV) in both Boost and Recover Drinks 😊 

 

 

 

Why it's in our Tonic drinks? 

 

• The Immune System - Vitamin D packs a powerful punch when it comes to optimizing your immune health. Without a strong immune system, you could easily fall prey to infections or illnesses.  We firmly believe in your body's inherent ability to defend itself, and by fuelling it with natural products like vitamin D, you can give yourself the best chance of staying healthy and protected against whatever comes your way. 

 

• Respiratory Problems – This study published by The British Medical Journal (BMJ) found vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of acute respiratory infections among all participants, WOW! 🤩   

 

Examples of acute respiratory infections: 

The common cold  

Ear infections 

Bronchitis 

Tonsilitis 

Pneumonia    

 

• Oral Health – Vitamin D helps our body to absorb calcium. When we think of calcium, we think of our teeth, or at least I do and there’s good reason for that. Our teeth are made up of calcium (among other things) so it isn’t wildly out there that optimum levels of vitamin D could help lower the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. 

 

 

 

The sun's got it's hat back on but that doesn't mean you should stop taking your Tonic Daily Immunity!

For starters Tonic contains more than just vitamin D, 10 other vitamins, minerals & plants to be exact 😉 But there are also other factors to consider in the summer months, you may have an office job, or simply be unable to get outside during optimum times (midday), all of these reasons would result in you getting inadequate amounts of 'The Sunshine Vitamin.' Sticking to the routine of drinking your Tonic Immunity daily will keep these levels topped up and allow you to crack on with whatever life throws at you👍

 

 

 

What’s to come on Instagram & TikTok this week... 

This week on socials we look at some questions/requests from you guys, we’re talking sausages, both chicken and veggie, and what’s best to feed our feline friends. Plus, the clocks sprung forward last night, so we’re all an hour down ⏰ how’s that going to affect us? Stay tuned to find out 🙌