A daily dose of sunshine gives you all the Vitamin D protection you need.
This coming summer why not try some quality time in the sun soaking up the rays? It will enhance your body’s natural ability to produce Vitamin D and provide protective health benefits. But before spending an entire day at the beach lazing away in the sun without sunscreen, consider the fact that you only need minutes of sun exposure to meet your vitamin D requirements.
Studies have shown that limited time in the sun —a few minutes up to 30 minutes dependent on your skin tone — can give you all the Vitamin D you need for a day. The key is to actually expose your skin during this brief period of time with about 25-50% of your skin exposed. The lighter your skin, the less time you need to spend in the sun; conversely, if your skin is darker, spend a little more time. To determine how much time to spend in the sun exactly, check out this great article, “How Much Sun Do You Need to Make Vitamin D?” But if you overdo it and get burned, consider using aromatherapy or tea to heal your skin.
So, (temporarily) ditch the sunscreen, roll up those sleeves and pants, and take that hat off! Or, better yet, don a bikini! You’ll get enough Vitamin D for a day to be able to forget about popping Vitamin D supplements and you’ll still get all the benefits.
Vitamin D protects against colon cancer, depression (especially SAD), hypertension, and numerous other diseases as many research studies have shown, so it’s essential to get your daily dose. What better way to do it than enjoying the summer sun?
© Karen Peltier and Well Gal, 2012 – 2014. All rights reserved.
Photo © Karen Peltier and Well Gal, 2012 – 2014. All rights reserved.