HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 July 1944, Page 6

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

VITAMIN D IN WINTER. Vitamin D is the agent which helps to convert our intake of minerals (calcium and phosphorus) into strong bones and healthy teeth. Without it our children would suffer from rickets; the growth of permanent teeth would be delayed, and their outer protection of enamel would be of inferior quality. In the Summer time we have no difficulty in getting our quota of vitamin D. It is supplied by the sunshine,

which is the originator of all this vitamin, and exposure of the body to sunshine helps us store up supplies of vitamin D in our skin.

In Winter sunshine is in very short sunply, and our diet, no matter how balanced it may be, cannot supply us with our requisite quantities of vitamin D. Eggs are usually the richest normal source, but thej r are hard to get these days and the other pre-war sources —sardines, herrings, salmon — are unobtainable. Milk and liver provide quantities, but to get one day’s supplv of vitamin D from milk you’d have to drink gallons of it.

The most valuable and convenient source of this vitamin in Winter in present circumstances is fish liver oils. The dosage suggested is: For very young children. 1 to 2 teaspoons of cod liver oil daily; for older children and adults 1 teaspoon daily. If very young children are given it from the time they are a month old they will get used to the taste. For others, who find cod liver oil hard to take, recognised brands of malt and cod liver oil, and fish liver oil in capsules, may be substituted. And don’t forget that it’s a good idea to get what sunshine you can even in Winter.