Office workers, underground miners, night shift employees and aged-care workers are more at risk of disease due to a lack of Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is obtained through sunlight and a small amount from food. However, the most reliable way to top up this important vitamin is to get outside and enjoy the sunlight.

Over the past few years, the recommendations for the amount of Vitamin D we need have increased due to a growing trend of vitamin D deficiency in the general population. This has been caused by people spending less time outdoors (due to working indoors) and using lots of sunscreen which blocks Vitamin D absorption.

Luckily, in Australia due to our intense sunlight it is easy to get Vitamin D. While residents of countries such as Canada and Scotland need to have Vitamin D supplements.

Ideally, we need to spend 6-8 minutes in the mid-morning sun during summer or about 20 minutes in winter. No sunscreen required. The best places to absorb sunscreen are the hands, face and your forearms.

Interestingly, if you watch the video with Dr John Cannell talking from Stamford Universtiy you will discover the increasing evidence that people with low Vitamin D levels are more likely to suffer from a wide range of diseases. In fact, getting lots of sunlight could be the best way to avoid getting the flu.

How can you get your staff out into the sunshine?