The rallying call from the health board’s team of dietitians comes as part of the Welsh Government’s Help Us Help You campaign which aims to encourage us to lead healthier lifestyles and therefore ease the pressure on the NHS.

Fern Walter, Public Health Dietetic Support Worker, explains:

“Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium which is really important to keep our bones and teeth healthy. You may be consuming calcium-rich foods but your body can’t make use of it without the right levels of vitamin D.”

“In the summer we have more exposure to direct sunlight and therefore we may be able to make enough vitamin D. But from October to March, we should all consider a daily supplement of vitamin D to ensure we’re getting enough. Although some food sources provide us with small amounts of vitamin D, unfortunately we cannot get enough from food alone.

It’s a little step that we can all take to help keep ourselves healthy which, in turn, supports the NHS,” adds Fern.

The Dietetic Support Worker is also keen to remind people across Powys that women and children who qualify for the Healthy Start scheme can get free vitamins.  https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as Rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called Osteomalacia in adults - a softening of the bones which can increase risk of fracture.

There are those that need to take a supplement all year around and these include people who are not outdoors very often – for example, if they're frail or housebound. You are more likely to be vitamin D deficient if you have dark skin – for example you have an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background.

The Welsh Government wants to encourage you to Help Us Help You. If you want to kickstart your journey to a healthier lifestyle, but don’t know where to start go to the Living and Feeling Well pages on the NHS 111 Wales website for tips and advice.