UK treated to new source of vitamin D

A replacement for supplements?

Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. This keeps bones, teeth and muscles healthy. It’s not like other vitamins because it acts like a hormone – every cell in the human body has a receptor for it.

It is produced naturally when the skin is exposed to sunlight. However, due to a lack of regular and direct sunshine in the UK, Britain’s population struggles to reach optimal levels. If your body is deprived of this vitamin, the affects can lead to bone deformities such as rickets.

According to Public Health England as much as 90% of the multi-ethnic population are suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. As a result, the NHS recommends a supplement to increase consumption of the ‘sunshine vitamin’. 

Up until now, most vitamin D supplements have been available in pills, powders, drops and sprays. However, Red Orchard says it has created an organic gel snack which delivers 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin D. 

According to the company, it believes that problems arising from deficiencies are “completely avoidable” if new ways to improve the experience of healthy nutrition are devised. “Nutrition shouldn’t be a chore, it should be a treat,” says Abdul Hakeem Hashi, Director of Red Orchard.