Eat Well
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Eat smart to boost Vitamin D levels The UK is hardly the sunniest of countries - even during the summer months - so it is perhaps unsurprising that scientists have suggested Brits may not be getting enough Vitamin D from our natural environment.

Vitamin D helps our bodies to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorus and is essential in forming strong bones, potentially preventing osteoporosis.

Some studies also suggest that the nutrient could also prevent a range of other conditions, including high blood pressure and auto-immune diseases.

Whilst it's true that we can top up on Vitamin D ourselves with just a little sun exposure, we may not be getting as much of it as we should be.

For example, office workers and others employed in inside jobs spend the lightest part of the day under artificial lights.

Meanwhile, we are rightly vigilant about sunburn and the dangerous effects it can have, so we tend to cover up and slather on sunscreen when we do go out, which again prevents Vitamin D from getting into our bodies,

Dr Ann Prentice, chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition warns that 50 per cent of British people could have a Vitamin D deficiency by the end of each winter, unless they try to add more of it to their diet.

The Food Standards Agency also recommends taking in ten micrograms of Vitamin D a day in order to maximise the amount of the nutrient getting to the bones.

So, how can we do this? Although supplements are useful in topping up vitamin levels and are handy for on the go, there are also natural sources of Vitamin D which we can make the most of.

Oily fish are a major source of Vitamin D so eating mackerel, sardines and tuna a couple of times a week could be beneficial.

Beef, liver, egg yolks and cheese also contain the nutrient, as do milk, fortified margarines and some breakfast cereals.

Look out for products with added Omega-3 too, as these will also be high in Vitamin D.

Provided you eat a balanced diet containing these foods and try to get out and about in the daylight - without risking skin safety - you should be able to keep your body healthy, whether the weather is sunny or not!