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27 June 2014 09:05
Exposing your skin to sunshine can help lower blood pressure
A vitamin found in natural sunlight and oily fish could potentially reduce high blood pressure, according to research.
Scientists from the University of South Australia identified a strong link between low levels of vitamin D, absorbed by the body from sunlight, and higher levels of blood pressure.
They believe it is the first study of its kind to suggest that taking vitamin D supplements could be an alternative to drugs for tackling high blood pressure in some patients.
The discovery also makes a strong case for packing your bags and jetting off to sunnier climes more often.
Holidaymakers who suffer from high blood pressure should make sure they purchase pre-existing medical condition travel insurance before embarking on trips overseas. This provides the peace of mind you need to enjoy your holiday, just in case something goes wrong on your travels.
Vitamin D is found in oily fish, as well as being routinely added to milk, yet our diets only account for a small amount of the nutrient that actually makes it into the bloodstream compared with exposure to the sun.
In fact, figures show that as many as three-quarters of Britons have vitamin D intakes which are below recommended levels, with children and older people deemed the most at-risk groups nationwide.
The Food Standards Agency does not recommend a specific daily dose of vitamin D unless you fall into one of the following categories: elderly, pregnant, Asian, get little sun exposure or eat no meat or oily fish. Daily supplements of 10mcg are advised in these cases.
Genetic data from a database of 146,500 people across Europe and North America was used in the new study.
The researchers, who looked at particular genetic variants in the blood, found each 10% increase in vitamin D in the system was linked to lower blood pressure and an 8.1% lower chance of suffering from hypertension.
The findings were published in the The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal.
23 June 2017
The fall in the value of the pound could pose a shock to British holidaymakers this summer, a currency expert has warned.
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22 June 2017
Britons have been warned that they could be banned from all-inclusive holidays unless they stop making bogus food poisoning claims.
21 June 2017
Holidaymakers could save themselves money by opting for self-catering breaks this summer, a report has shown.
20 June 2017
From trips abroad to days out closer to home, the school holidays can be a costly time for families.
17 June 2017
Debit and credit card charges are causing holidaymakers to "waste" more than £100 million each year, a new report has warned.
16 June 2017
Aggressive and potentially lethal prostate cancer could be detected more quickly thanks to a simple blood test, scientists have revealed.
15 June 2017
Many holidaymakers are over-estimating the benefits offered by European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs), a new study warns.
14 June 2017
British holidaymakers will benefit from the end of mobile roaming charges this week.
13 June 2017
UK holidaymakers could face higher costs in the months ahead following the collapse in the pound, the owner of a major travel firm has warned.
10 June 2017
Holidaymakers planning trips abroad in the coming days will be monitoring the progress of the pound closely following the surprise general election result.
09 June 2017
Family holidays to traditional hotspots like Menorca and Ibiza could end up costing more than far-flung destinations such as Orlando, Thailand and Bali, surprising new research suggests.
08 June 2017
Two of Europe's major budget airlines enjoyed strong passenger growth last month, as the summer holiday season got under way.