A relaxing way to beat the blues this winter…head to a SPA!
It’s not hard to understand why one in five in the UK has a vitamin D deficiency.
The main source of this essential nutrient is direct sunlight – something Britain is deficient in for most of the year.
In the most extreme cases, a deficiency can lead to bone deformities and increase the risk of fractures.
For most, however, low levels can manifest as unexplained fatigue, general aches and pains and a weak immune system – something none of us want as a ‘quadruple demic’ of flu, RSV, norovirus and Covid sweeps the UK.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that suffers during the 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 well-being’ , it promises.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). File image
The treatment itself consists of lying in a warm bath with essential oil while air jets gently massage the body. File image
The treatment
The Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa is located in Newbury, just outside Reading – surrounded by rolling green hills that give it a sense of expensive seclusion, despite being just off the M4. It also features a golf club, an 18-metre swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room and a jacuzzi.
The treatment itself involves lying in a warm bath with essential oil while air jets gently massage the body to stimulate circulation and nourish dry skin.
The bath is taken under a sunscreen with UV light, which I am sure is low and therefore does not damage the skin – but is sufficient to stimulate the body’s natural production of vitamin D.
Recently, blood tests showed that I am deficient in vitamin D, and I’m wondering if this is causing my energy levels to drop.
Certainly, I leave feeling relaxed and energized, ready to go shopping for Christmas presents.
Rooms at Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa start at £129 per night for a standard double room and £209 for a suite. (donningtonvalley.co.uk)