Get out into the sun this weekend!

Hetty58 don't we all know about Vitamin D by now? We don't need 'experts' to tell us that it's good for immunity, do we?
I think if you look into it, you’ll find that researchers are only just beginning to understand the role of vitamin D not just in COVID but other conditions too.
Knowledge is never complete.

Very interesting article MawB Thank you. I have never been able to sit in the sun, being fair skinned and blue eyed. But moving around is fine. At the moment both DH and I spend about 5 hrs a day outside. So that should be sufficient I should think.

Many thanks Janea A project for me during lock down methinks. Figure out how to do links?

Yes Hetty I am sure many know about the benefits from vit D supplement however research has shown the effect daily intake has been discovered as such a positive in relation to outcomes of Covid 19. This is something I didn’t know.

Kalu that looked like an interesting website, I shall go back to it and read more.

To copy a link, highlight it in the browser (I think is the right terminology).
Then right click.
Click copy.
Then go to where you want to put the link.
Right click again, and click paste.
Job done

I don't know which is worse, Covid-19 or BCC's ? I'm so prone to skin cancer but love the sun/warmth that both are a risk.

I will have a go janea. I tried sending links in the early days of GN but gave up??‍♀️ No staying power!

I think it was more difficult then Kalu.
You had to put the link in double square brackets or something like that, if I remember correctly!

Kalu if you learn how to do links on a tablet please let me know!

Although I could do them on my old one.

I never forgot any of mine but I did lock one in the car once. She was asleep and I did get her out, thanks to a kind passerby.

This podcast from Radio 4s 'More or Less' has some interesting information on the relationship between Covid 19 and Vitamin D
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08czkk7

@Growstuff I take a prescribed dose of Vitamin D of 20,000 units once monthly in the summer months, twice monthly in the winter. Are you sure you meant 20,000units daily? I'm pretty certain that would be a toxic dose

My dad once left my brother in his pram outside the Post Office. When my mum ran down to get him (probably a mile or more!) my brother had got into the shopping dad had been doing and had squeezed all the guts out of the fish dad had bought.

Mum was not best pleased, she said my brother was covered from head to toe in scales.

Yes, I did GrannyLaine, but only short term. I was very severely deficient and was prescribed what's known as a loading dose. As soon as I was up to somewhere near a normal blood serum amount, I was prescribed a maintenance dose.

The reason I was so deficient was that I was prescribed Lansoprazole to counteract the effects of one of the drugs after I had a heart attack. Unfortunately, Lansoprazole (and the more commonly prescribed Omeprazole) reduce absorption of certain vitamins, including Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. Metformin, which I take for diabetes, also affects absorption.

PS. I was having fortnightly blood tests at the time and having my liver and kidney functions tested. I wouldn't ever suggest anybody takes that dose without close supervision.

@growstuff, slightly puzzled as that dose of 140,000IU weekly is way in excess of NICE guidelines for D3 loading dose. My levels were also almost non existent before I started treatment. Interestingly, my 37 year old daughter has also been found to be deficient - very fit, eats really well and loves the sun. Something else at play here I think.

Well, that's what it was. Maybe the GP made a mistake. I honestly don't know. I can't remember how long I took it for. It wasn't that long and I was being constantly tested. My level was almost non-existent too and as soon as it started to rise, I was changed to a maintenance dose.

In my case, the reason was quite clear. It was a knock-on effect of other medication.

EllanVannin, I have the same problem, but I have psoriasis too.
Am I top trump??

I try and get the sun on bits that haven’t been exposed to as much damage over the years. Legs & back for instance. My face and neck and arms are covered in SPF50 and I wear a hat. You don’t need to be exposed for long so just take care you don’t damage your skin. Course you know that already!

I am prescribed tablets which are 400IU twice a day along with Calcium and as I am supposed to keep out of the sun that should be enough.

I have had BSC - so do have to be a little careful about sunbathing. Was told that sitting in the shade on a sunny day, will still help to build up natural Vit D - so this is what I try to do. Also take Vit D prescribed by Doctor due to Osteoporosis.
What does surprise me is how reluctant people seem to be to have open windows. The block of flats where I live get the sun the whole afternoon. I have my windows well open all that time, including the large patio door onto my sun-trap balcony. Astonishes me how few other residents open any of their windows at all. Must be baking hot in their flats as we do have quite large windows catching this sun. Why are people so scared of letting fresh air (and it is fresh as we are in a seaside resort), into their homes?

Going back to the OP, thanks for the second link MawB Really interesting article.
Let's not forget that we can also get Vitamin D from dietary sources too, though it seems we don't absorb it as well as we get older

janea, Callistemon. I need to figure out how to do it on my tablet. Couple of tries so far didn’t work so I will keep at it?

Kalu, on my tablet, I highlight the address by using my finger to drag along it, you then get a box with a choice of actions.
One is copy. Choose copy and press on the place on your screen where you want to paste the link and you the option to paste comes up. ...I think! I'm on my PC and I can't be be faffed going downstairs to look for my tablet!

I will check later for you, in case that doesn't describe it properly. Remember, I'm footering today!

That doesn't seem to work on mine, Marydoll
I need to go back to the instruction manual which I've largely ignored so far.
It's always a good idea to read the instructions!

Another forgetful mum here! 4th baby, just a week old, I`d been home about 15 minutes when I suddenly remembered that David was still in the pram outside the shop, luckily just around the corner. I rushed back, and the shopkeeper, Mrs. Barton, said "I`ve been keeping an eye on him, wondered how long before you realised!"

I love your honesty Marydoll??. I will give it a go tomorrow as it’s far too late to start any faffing half asleep.

Well we still are in lockdown and happy with that. Also has been freezing this weekend and some rain and frost in the mornings for the last few weeks. Doubt we would have had any vitamin D today from the sun!
Interesting though. Before I retired I saw several people daily to give vitamin B12 injections and occasionally a few Asian girls needing vitamin D injections which I thought was because the sunshine in Scotland is not very strong and much less apparent than even south of England.
I also remember during midwifery training that neonatal babies with jaundice in Southern Europe are often nursed outside in the sun whereas in the UK they are nursed under ultra violet lights.
Even when my children were babies they were outside shops in prams and outside in the garden for naps. That doesn't seem to happen now - shops I agree as risky but prams in the garden were maybe a good thing. I always like the house well aired and have windows open where neither DDs do that. They both have phobia about wasps though - seen a few of these lately and also lots of bumble bees.