It isn’t hard to understand why one in five in the UK are Vitamin D deficient.
The primary source for the vital nutrient is direct sunlight – something Britain lacks for much of the year.
At its most extreme, deficiency can lead to bone deformities and increases the risk of fractures.
However, for most, low levels may manifest as unexplained fatigue, general aches and pains as well as a weak immune system – something none of us want as a ‘quadruple-demic’ of flu, RSV, norovirus and Covid sweeps the UK.
A lack of Vitamin D has also been linked to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that affects patients during winter months.
But the Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa in Berkshire has something to beat the winter blues with its Aqua Sun Mineral treatment (25 minutes, £119), which is ‘particularly good for treating SAD and promoting a sense of wellbeing,’ it promises.
The treatment
The Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa is in Newbury, just outside Reading – surrounded by rolling green hills that give it a sense of expensive seclusion despite being situated just off the M4. It also boasts a golf club, 18m swimming pool, sauna, steamroom and jacuzzi.
The treatment itself involves lying in a warm essential oil-infused bath while air jets gently massage the body to boost circulation and nourish dry skin.
The bath is taken underneath a UV light canopy which, I’m assured, is low-level so won’t damage the skin – but is enough to stimulate the body’s natural production of Vitamin D.
Recently, blood tests have suggested I’m low in Vitamin D – and I wonder if it’s causing my energy levels to flag.
Certainly, I leave feeling both relaxed and energised, ready to take on Christmas present shopping.
Rooms at Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa start at £129 a night for a standard double and £209 for a suite. (donningtonvalley.co.uk)
