With nearly 1 in 5 adults aged 19 to 64 years (18%) and almost a quarter of children aged 11 to 18 years (23%) in the UK estimated to be vitamin D deficient, the importance of getting enough of this essential nutrient is firmly in the spotlight, particularly outside the sunnier months.
Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin because your body can make it via the action of sun on your skin. However, in the UK the sun is only strong enough for this to happen between April and September.
To help support your coverage, Weetabix has pulled together a simple guide on why vitamin D matters and how to incorporate more of it into everyday diets.
How to Get More Vitamin D in your Diet
To meet the recommended vitamin D intake, the government advice is to choose vitamin D rich foods, spend time outdoors sun-safely, and take vitamin D supplements in the autumn and winter, with some groups advised to take supplements all year round.
As few foods are naturally good sources of vitamin D, an all year-round boost can come from foods fortified with vitamin D, such as breakfast cereals like Weetabix.
Foods that are sources of vitamin D include:
- Oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel)
- Eggs
- Mushrooms (if labelled as containing vitamin D)
- Fortified fat spreads
- Fortified breakfast cereals
Fortify your Breakfast
Food fortification is the process of adding vitamins (for example vitamin D) or minerals (for example iron) to everyday foods, to improve their nutritional value and to help prevent deficiencies in the population.
Modern day diets can vary, some nutrients are lost during food processing, which means sometimes people don’t get enough of certain nutrients from their normal diet. Certain groups of people such as children, pregnant women or older adults may need more of specific vitamins or minerals.
Fortifying foods is safe and helps to ensure more people get the nutrients they need without having to change their eating habits
How Weetabix Contributes to Daily Vitamin D Needs
Weetabix cereals are now fortified with vitamin D, helping you towards your daily goal. A two bix serving provides 50% (2.5µg) of your daily recommended amount of vitamin D or 138% per 100g.
It’s not only Weetabix original that’s fortified, a whole range of cereal including Weetabix minis, Banana, Protein, Oatibix and Ready Brek are now rich in vitamin D too.
So, if you want to look after your bones and muscles and support your immune system, grab that sunny yellow box and let a bowl of Weetabix make a delicious and significant contribution to your vitamin D needs.
To help increase your vitamin D intake, try topping your Weetabix with a poached egg or use fortified dairy or plant-based milks and yoghurts, which often have vitamin D added (Check the label).
For more information on how Weetabix supports with your daily vitamin D needs and for breakfast recipes and ideas, please visit Weetabix.