Morning Live’s resident GP Dr Punam Krishan has said that people need to start taking one vitamin “now” and couldn’t stress enough how important it is. The GP is currently on Strictly with her professional dancing partner, Gorka, hoping to take home the Glitterball Trophy. However she is still urging people to keep up with their vitamins, saying on her recent TikTok video it’s something people should do all year round, but especially during colder months.
Dr Punam aka @drpunamkrishan said: “Something that I’ve been seeing a lot of the last couple of weeks as people really badly affected with chest infections, bad cold, sore throat, sore ears, sinusitis, Covid is doing the rounds – and there’s a few reasons for that. The first most important one is when the weather changes a lot of us in Scotland would say that we’ve had zero summer and I’d agree with that, but we are now in autumn and heading towards winter and when that happens it’s a perfect opportunity for viruses to start spreading.”
There’s another opportunity however for viruses and bacteria to spread with people coming back from their holidays and kids returning to school. This can “make us feel as miserable as possible” the expert said. But thankfully, there is something that we can do with the doctor warning that we need to start “now”.
Dr Punam explains: “There’s something we can order to help support the immune system so this is your friendly GP reminder that if you haven’t already been taking it start taking your vitamin D now. I can’t emphasise how important this is. We should be taking it all year round especially if you’ve someone like me who has dark skin, if you have to cover up for whatever reason so you have literally very little exposure you should be taking your now. It’s only 10 micrograms – that’s all you need.”
According to the NHS, you can get vitamin D sources from food. The pills are cheap, with Boots selling one jar with 90 pills for £4, for instance – around 4p a pill. Sources include:
- oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel
- red meat
- liver (avoid liver if you are pregnant)
- egg yolks
- fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals
“In the UK, cows’ milk is generally not a good source of vitamin D because it is not fortified, as it is in some other countries”, the NHS cautions. Despite there being some options, the doctor warns that this is often “never enough” which means that “you do really need to top it up with that vitamin D” supplements.
Thankfully, “you don’t need expensive fancy brands” she stresses, suggesting people just do what she does and pop into their “local supermarket or pharmacy and get what’s on offer”.
She continues: “You should be taking it at least through to spring at the very earliest.” Because this time of year can make people feel a bit down, she said: “I know we can make you feel very miserable so if you are someone who is at home right now and it’s feeling a bit rubbish, then you’re not alone. I hope you get well soon, [drink plenty of] fluids and rest up. Take the time to heal, [have] lots of nice food and paracetamol and if you’re still struggling then of course to your local pharmacy or your GP because that’s what we’re here for.”