The 66-year-old diet expert, known for his 5:2 and Fast 800 meal plans, said it’s especially important to get vitamin D as you get older.
Nutrition expert Dr Michael Moseley has revealed that he takes just a 2p daily supplement to protect against dementia and cancer. The 66-year-old inventor of the 5:2 diet and the Fast 800 diet revealed that he takes vitamin D every day as it has vital health benefits, especially for older people. .
In a column for the Daily Mail, the renowned fitness doctor said that traditionally he doesn’t like supplements because you need to get all the vitamins you need through a balanced diet. However, he argued that the body’s ability to absorb vitamin D declines with age, a key essential for preventing diseases such as dementia and reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Mosley had previously taken supplements only during the winter months when the effects of sunlight were less intense, but she recently decided to take them year-round. The NHS also recommends her daily intake of this vitamin.
A pack of 400 tablets costs around £8.99, making each tablet cost around 2p per day.
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The doctor said: “I eat a lot of oily fish and eggs, which are rich in vitamin D, and I go for a lot of walks outside, so my vitamin D levels should be well replenished. But this year I haven’t taken any of those supplements. Please continue.”
He went on to justify his decision by citing research on aging, explaining: “Part of the reason for that is, surprisingly, I’m getting older and research shows that as we get older, our bodies become less efficient at absorbing vitamin D from food and skin. It is also less efficient at converting sunlight into this nutrient. ”
“That and the fact that older people tend to spend more time indoors and in the shade means that vitamin D deficiency is very common in people over 60, especially if they have darker skin, even during the summer months.” It means that it is true.”
Dr Mosley said there was varying advice on the dosage people should take, with the NHS recommending 10 micrograms (mcg), or 400 international units (IU), of vitamin D per day. He said the National Institutes of Health recommends 15 micrograms, and 20 micrograms for people over 70.
But he added: “I’m taking 25 micrograms (1,000 IU), which is within the range considered safe (according to the NHS, 100 micrograms per day for adults and 50 micrograms per day for children). (less than a gram), but near certain doses that research has shown should be taken to prevent infections, cancer, and even dementia.
He explained that vitamin D’s most well-known role is to increase the absorption of calcium in the body to keep bones healthy.
He said: “In recent years, scientists have discovered that vitamin D receptors are present in almost all of our cells, suggesting that their usefulness extends far beyond bones. “However, there is growing evidence that it can provide benefits in these areas, including colonic prevention.” For example, when it comes to cancer, a very recent study published in the journal Science showed that taking large amounts of vitamin D may be helpful. Increases the type of intestinal bacteria that are particularly good at preventing the growth of intestinal cancer. ”
