Health
Dr Amir Khan's NHS-backed October reminder to everyone in the UK
Key Points
Dr Amir Khan's NHS-backed October reminder to everyone in the UK 'We all need to be doing it' for the rest of the year TV's Dr Amir Khan has taken to social media to issue an important reminder to everyone in the UK now that the calendar has switched to October. He stressed the importance of one thing everyone should now consider taking to boost their health during the winter. As the nights start to come earlier and sunrises get later, Brits will be exposed to less daylight each day.
Dr Amir Khan's NHS-backed October reminder to everyone in the UK
'We all need to be doing it' for the rest of the year
TV's Dr Amir Khan has taken to social media to issue an important reminder to everyone in the UK now that the calendar has switched to October. He stressed the importance of one thing everyone should now consider taking to boost their health during the winter.
As the nights start to come earlier and sunrises get later, Brits will be exposed to less daylight each day. The ITV regular and practising GP took to Instagram to stress the importance of taking a vitamin D supplement to make up for what people are losing out on naturally.
He said: "This is your annual October reminder to start taking your Vitamin D supplement. I know it's really sunny today, but we don't get enough sunlight between October right through to the end of March. So start taking your supplement, 400 international units or 10 micrograms, that's what the NHS recommends."
Dr Khan adds that "everyone should be doing [this]", claiming that some people may need higher-than-average doses if they are already deficient. He said: "We all need to be doing it. Honestly, it will really help keep you healthy through the winter."
It is important to speak to your doctor first before starting any new supplements to ensure they are suitable for you, especially if you are taking certain medications.
What is Vitamin D?
According to the NHS website, vitamin D helps regulate the levels of calcium and phosphate in the body. The health service adds that "these nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy".
The NHS says: "From about late March or early April to the end of September, most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors."
From October, we do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight, so we need to get it from other sources. A simple supplement can help but there are plenty of natural sources found in foods we eat, such as:
- oily fish such as salmon, sardines, trout, herring or mackerel
- red meat
- egg yolks
- fortified foods such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals
- liver (avoid if you're pregnant)
Can I take too much Vitamin D?
The NHS said: "Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart."
People who choose to take vitamin D supplements should check the packaging and aim for 10 micrograms a day. The NHS claims that this will "be enough for most people".
The service adds: "Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years."