Sun Exposure and Vitamin D – What’s the Right Balance?

The sun is a good source of Vitamin D and it is said that just 15 minutes of sun during the prime time of the day can give us our recommended amount of Vitamin D for the day. This is a better source of Vitamin D than any food can give us in their recommended amount.

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin our body needs for many metabolic functions of the skeletal, cardiovascular and even our immune system. Vitamin D is found in foods like fatty fish, cheese and fortified foods such as cereals and is synthesized with the help of UVB rays that come from the sun.

However, the sun can also be detrimental to us, and it cause dehydration, headaches, and the sun can also cause skin cancer. There were approximately 3.5 million people who were diagnosed with skin cancer this year alone.

We need to soak up the UVB rays for the vitamin D. What we are looking for is a healthy balance with the sun getting in our vitamin D without the sun having bad effects relating to cancer.

Key Points:

• Vitamin D is important for bone health, cardiovascular function, immune system and protects against diseases like rickets and cancer.
• There are many side effects to staying out too long in the sun. Headaches and thirst usually come first, and longer, more serious effects include skin cancer.
• According to the Vitamin D council, we may be able to get all that we need within 15 minutes of being in the sun mid-day.

“There are so many facts out there about sun exposure and its detrimental effects while at the same time we constantly hear that Vitamin D (which primarily comes from time in the sun) is essential!”

Sun Exposure and Vitamin D – What’s the Right Balance?