Vitamin D

Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin which is made by the action of sunlight on the skin during the summer months. It is needed to enable the body to absorb calcium and which helps to keep the bones strong.

With the sunny weather it seemed apt to talk about this on the radio plus at a talk I gave at the RSPH in London. It seemed especially important as a lack of vitamin D can contribute to falls in older people.

It has been recognised that some people may require a supplement of Vitamin D and they are:-

1. All pregnant and breastfeeding women
2. Infants and young children under 5 years of age
3. Older people aged 65 years and over
4. People who have low or no exposure to the sun
5. People who have darker skin

Food sources are few and include oily fish, egg yolks, fortified breakfast cereals, red meat, butter and fortified spreads, hard cheese as well as full fat dairy products.

For more information go to http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/02/advice-vitamin-d/

Fluid intake

I found this fun when I saw it in a presentation on fluid so thought I would use it. Last week I was involved in speaking in Nottingham at a confernce on "Nutrition andf Hydration". It was aimed at those involved in the care of older people. Sadly many people do not drink enough--with enough being 1.5-2litres per day.