In desperate need of some warmer spring weather, I took advantage of a recent opportunity to spend this past weekend in Las Vegas. A quick look at the weather forecast indicated that the temperature would be sizzling without a single cloud in sight so my decision was confirmed.
Whenever I’m in the sun, I’m reminded of the importance of Vitamin D, what some in the world of nutrition say is the single most underrated nutrient. Vitamin D is unique in that your body makes it in response to exposure from natural sunlight and is necessary for prevention of osteoporosis, depression, prostate cancer and breast cancer.
Without sufficient levels of Vitamin D, your body cannot absorb calcium. But here’s the kicker. It’s impossible to get adequate amounts of Vitamin D from your diet. Exposure to sunlight is the only reliable way. In fact, one would need to drink 10 glasses of Vitamin D fortified milk each day (I don’t recommend this, I hope the reasons are obvious) to get enough from their diet.
And all you SPF-wearers out there, take heed. Even weak sunscreens block the body’s ability to generate Vitamin D and can create a vitamin deficiency in the body.
So if sun exposure is actually healthy why are we are advised to slather on sunscreen when in the sun? The simple answer is that there are two sides to every coin and I’ll once again play the balance card. Prolonged sun exposure without protection can be dangerous and lead to skin damage so if you do plan to be in the sun for an extended period of time, by all means, cover up!
BUT, if you’re using the sun for your daily dose of D, follow these guidelines:
- Aim for no more than 20 minutes of exposure
- During this time, go without SPF
- Target your arms/hands and face
- A great way to get your time in the sun is to pair it with exercise — a walk, a short run or a bike ride
- Keep in mind that those with dark skin pigmentation need more exposure to sunlight to generate the same amount of Vitamin D as fair-skinned people
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