Three researchers who worked on a project in their own time using strands of their own hair have discovered that it’s possible to measure Vitamin D levels using human hair.

Teagasc researchers have found that it is not just humans in Ireland who may go short of vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin.

After a cold and dreary winter that seemed to go on forever, the arrival of what appears to be summer will, hopefully, allow the young and old alike to enjoy the delights of the outdoors.

A UCC study of more than 1,000 newborns found almost half (46%) were deficient in vitamin D, rising to 62% in wintertime.

This week I’m jumping into the world of green smoothies. 

People in poorer parts of Dublin are not getting enough of the sunshine vitamin to keep bones, hearts and bodies healthy.

 

People are being urged to consider taking a vitamin supplement in the winter months to ensure they get enough vitamin D.

ONE in four Irish mums are in the dark about Vitamin D — in a recent survey, 25% admitted “not knowing anything” about the vitamin.

PLASTIC PADDING: Exposure in the womb to a common chemical used in plastic water bottles and food cans may predispose babies to obesity, research suggests.

Megan Sheppard gives her advice on getting enough vitamin D naturally and whether or not there is any nutritional benefit to using brown or raw sugar over regular white sugar.

BEER TOXINS: Big beer drinkers who down as much as two pints a day may be exposing themselves to harmful levels of fungal toxins, a study has found. 

British retailer Marks and Spencer is to add vitamin D to its entire packaged bread range after finding that customers are concerned they are not getting their recommended daily amount.

Sunscreens help to prevent burning and skin cancer, but they also block our main source of vitamin D, which protects us from a range of diseases, says Helen O’Callaghan.