The Crucial Relationship Between Vitamin D and Your Health

Britain has plenty of pockets of joy to offer its residents, but the weather isn’t one of them - it’s more like a grey and dismal abyss of misery.  I don’t need to tell you that the weather is crap because you’ve likely had that very British conversation more than once a day, with anyone who will listen, every day of your adult life.  Talking about the weather is quite literally the most British way of starting a conversation or filling an awkward silence when you don’t know what to say, and it always ends up the same way: both you and the recipient agreeing that living in Spain would be much nicer. 

Every year, us Brits flock to the Med or further afield, chasing the sun, waiting for the heat to hit us when the plane doors open, praying for a brief interlude in the saga of getting soaked every time we set foot out the door.  We then proceed to smother every inch of our bodies in sun cream, lying on sunbeds with our fingers and toes spread, resenting having to get up for a wee or worrying that our legs aren’t exposed when we take a momentary dip in the pool to cool off. If we’re lucky, we commit two weeks of the year to getting a tan, knowing it will quickly fade the minute we touch back down in Blighty, but we do it anyway! 

However, us Brits are the first to complain when we are blessed with a brief moment of sun during our elusive heat waves! Oh the irony.  It’s so funny how ill equipped we are to deal with any weather extreme; battening down the hatches at the first sight of a snowflake, or sweating profusely and turning into hot messes when it’s cracking the flags, but we will quite happily throw thousands of pounds trying to escape our natural habitat. Why? Because the rest of the world has got pools and beaches that we dare to take a dip in. The only weather front we seem to find our comfort in is the dreary grey drizzle, but my God do we love to complain about it. 

Have you ever wondered why you feel so much better with a tan or after being exposed to the sun?  In December, my hubby and I were fortunate enough to take a Christmas trip to Thailand.  We stayed on an island, an island we renamed ‘The Island of no Hangovers!’  We couldn’t understand that after drinking copious amounts of booze that we were waking up feeling as fresh as daisies.  Nor could I understand why my usual period hell (which annoyingly arrived at the end of the first week) didn’t strike.  We were both full of energy, in excellent moods, eager to make the most of our holiday and for two whole weeks, we really liked each other.  Granted, we were in Thailand, we weren’t working, cooking, cleaning, or really adulting…but our sense of well-being far surpassed how we felt at weekends or during holidays in the UK, or even holidays abroad in the past to be truthful.  It could have been the great UPF free Thai cuisine, and whilst I know that helped, we both felt completely reborn overnight. 

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, especially living in Britain, it's easy to overlook the small but mighty nutrients that play crucial roles in our overall health and well-being. One such nutrient that deserves our attention is Vitamin D3.

During the Covid years, Vitamin D had a starring role and guidance advised that people who were deficient in this hormone (yes, it’s a hormone) should be extra cautious and address their lack of this essential life source.  Lucky for us, the sun shone its arse off during the first lockdown - it was almost like someone was looking down on us, but we weren’t so lucky during our second imprisonment.  If you’re still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, our Long Covid blog might just be of interest. 

Failure to maintain adequate Vitamin D levels can have serious consequences on health, particularly for menopausal women, men, and children. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to weakened bones, increased risk of fractures, compromised immune function, mood disorders like depression, and even cardiovascular problems. Therefore, prioritising sufficient Vitamin D intake is crucial for overall health and well-being.

Vitamin D undergoes activation in the kidneys to its active form, which is essential for various physiological functions in the body. However, renal function tends to decline with age, leading to reduced conversion of,  yes, you’ve guessed it, Vitamin D, as it struggles to convert into its active form, potentially lower levels of bioavailable Vitamin D.

During menopause, hormonal fluctuations can affect Vitamin D metabolism and absorption. Changes in hormone levels, particularly oestrogen, can impact calcium and Vitamin D metabolism, leading to alterations in bone health and potentially affecting Vitamin D absorption. This is further exacerbated when we alter our dietary habits, finding comfort in ultra processed food or maybe enjoying the fruits of retirement a little too much. 

Whilst Vitamin D3, often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin," plays a pivotal role in various bodily functions, including calcium absorption, immune system regulation, and mood regulation, its benefits are optimised when paired with Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is vital for directing calcium to the bones and teeth, where it belongs, and away from arteries and soft tissues, thus preventing the risk of calcification and cardiovascular issues. However, you need both for optimum health harmony. 

Collagen and bone broth protein contain essential amino acids and minerals that aid in the absorption and utilisation of Vitamin D3, ensuring that your body reaps maximum benefits from supplementation.

Bone Broth is ancient nutrition and a remarkable elixir that has been cherished across cultures for centuries.  WillPowders Protein Powders and and Bovine Collagen Peptides are the best and most natural sources of protein,  working their biological wizardry in every inch of our makeups. Rich in glycine, which supports the body’s natural synthesis of collagen as well helping you to maintain your skin’s glow, joint health and gut integrity, and glutamine which supports the gut in repairing the intestinal linings. Supplementing with WillPowders’ Protein and Collagen ensures your gut remains a fortress, allowing it to do its good work and supporting your body in all its biological functions. This includes nutrient absorption and in this case, the elusive Vitamin D that does its best to evade us Brits. For further reading on the power of amino acids, proteins, specifically collagen and protein powder, check out our dedicated blog series: Protein and Collagen.