The gift of good health from the sun: vitamin D

It is true that overexposure to the sun can cause skin damage. But there is another side of the coin: not all sun exposure is excessive. Yes, you CAN sunbathe and not get burned too. In fact, you should make sure to include a bit of sunshine in your routine every day.

According to Michael F. Holick, MD, in his new book, The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Approach to Curing Our Most Common Health Problem, Sun Phobia and Sunscreen Use Have Prohibited Our Bodies From Making “the vitamin of the sun”. that is essential for almost all areas of health. Dr. Holick is an expert who was ahead of his time. He has been writing and speaking about the benefits of vitamin D for years, though it has only recently come to the forefront of medicine and research. Among the facts that his book shares:

Why do you need vitamin D so desperately? A large percentage of us are deficient, even those who live in sunny climates.

What can it do for your body? Most! Vitamin D contributes to the health of

• bones (by preventing osteoporosis and fractures),
• cells (protecting from cancers, infectious diseases and asthma),
• organs (protecting against heart disease, diabetes, and tooth loss),
• the autoimmune system (by lowering the risk of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and type 1 diabetes), and
• the brain (avoiding depression, Alzheimer’s and dementia).

Additionally, this hormone supports muscle strength and helps prevent mood-related health problems (PMS and sleep disorders).

Our bodies do not produce vitamin D naturally unless we spend time in the sun responsibly. For those who are sun shy, certain foods and supplements can provide the missing vitamin.

So… is it really okay to sit in the sun? It’s best to consult Dr. Holick’s book, which contains tables of sun exposure recommendations for different skin types and geographic locations. But in general, Dr. Holick suggests 10 to 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure on your arms and legs (avoid sun on your face) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2 to 3 times a week, it is very beneficial. And the inhabitants of the interior should not despair: you do not need a beach. Sitting outside at lunch time will suffice! However, if you wear a swimsuit, remember that more of your skin is exposed. This means more opportunities to get your vitamin D and less time required in the sun (approximately 7-8 minutes). And then the sunscreen goes off right away. Remember, the rule is “spend time in the sun responsibly”!

When it comes to the sun and your skin, it doesn’t take much effort to reap great health benefits. Take a moment to answer two questions: Do you have just a few minutes a day that you could spend soaking up some vitamin-producing rays? Or, on the contrary, are you compromising your health by spending too much time without protection from the damage that the sun can cause? Small adjustments go a long way. Pledge to adopt them today!