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Vitamin D is often referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, because our body produces it when it is exposed to sunlight. Most people can produce enough vitamin D from sunlight from late March or early April to the end of September. But it's often difficult to get enough from the sun alone for the rest of the year.

A common misconception is how a large proportion of Irish people only concern themselves with applying SPF products and generally protecting their skin from the sun throughout the warmer months or when on holiday, believing that there is no need for such sun protection efforts in winter.

Widely known as the sunshine vitamin, there is a reason vitamin D is so easy for our bodies to synthesise in the summer months — we need it for a huge variety of functions. Yet, chances are that you are low in it, since it is estimated around one billion people worldwide are deficient or have insufficient levels. So what is vitamin D? Interestingly, it is not simply a fat soluble vitamin that is produced endogenously when UV rays reach our skin at the correct angle, it is actually also a hormone. Its various forms have a range of names; including calcitriol, ergocalciferol, calcidiol, and cholecalciferol.

Arguably one of the least favourite months of the year, (maybe the best if you are an avid rugby fan), November is known for its dreadful weather; from bucket loads of rain to freezing temperatures, the days are dark and gloomy and people are less likely to go out and socialise; preferring to stay inside for warmth.

The summer holidays are now and happening and whether staying at home, or travelling abroad, professional advice from totalhealth pharmacies can make things easier.

Two students participating in Ureka research projects at the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES) explain their work. Ureka is a Science Foundation Ireland funded programme which provides undergraduate students to conduct research over the summer months in leading institutes.