As the winter chill bites, it’s not just about keeping warm – it’s crucial to look after our mental and physical well-being too.
Experts suggest maintaining a nutritious diet and sticking to your daily routines can help lift your spirits through the darker days. However, one neurologist on TikTok, boasting a hefty following of 73,700, revealed the dangers of ignoring vitamin D during winter.
Dr Bing, a vocal advocate for brain health who regularly dishes out advice online, highlighted in his recent post how overlooking the supplement can have adverse effects on the brain and overall health.
He advised: “Here’s the one thing I don’t do in the winter as a neurologist and that is ignoring the impact of vitamin D on your brain and body. Vitamin D is crucial for brain health because it helps maintain mood, memory and cognitive function.”
The expert warned: “Deficiency in this vitamin has been linked to higher risk of depression and cognitive decline. However, during the winter months, shorter days and limited sunlight exposure make it difficult for the body to produce sufficient vitamin D naturally.
“Now some people may consider taking supplements to address this deficiency and that is totally fine, but it is important to know and understand that vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which means it is stored in the body.”
He then stated: “For most adults, the upper limit is 4,000 international units or 100 micrograms per day, although this varies on age and health status. Taking more than this without medical supervision can lead to vitamin D toxicity, a condition that can cause serious health problems, such as high levels of calcium in the blood.
“Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, kidney damage and in severe cases, calcification of organs and tissues. This is why it’s essential to always consult a doctor before and to carefully follow the dosage instructions on labels.”
There are other ways to boost your vitamin D intake without supplements. For example, spending time outdoors during daylight hours can help your body produce it naturally, even in limited sunlight.
Also make sure you eat foods rich in the vitamin, like fatty fish, egg yolks, milk and orange juice. It’s worth remembering vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.
A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities and the NHS says the government advice states everyone should be taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.
Since the doctor shared the advice, his post garnered 460 likes and dozens of comments. One said: “Thank you, I enjoy your videos.” Another added: “I love all your straightforward, truthful and common sense answers to questions.”
Make sure you speak to a professional before you begin taking any supplements. It’s likely your doctor will recommend you take a different amount of vitamin D, depending on your current health situation.