A small amount of unprotected sun is fine, but it's better to rely on vitamin D supplements to achieve your adequate daily intake.
Our body is amazing in so many ways. When our uncovered skin (i.e. not covered by clothing or sunscreen) is exposed to sunlight, our body forms vitamin D. But this isn’t a foolproof process since the time of year, how far you are from the sun (think Alaska during the winter for instance), time of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content (which makes your skin turn tan or dark skin dark) and of course sunscreen use and clothes all affect UV light exposure and therefore, vitamin D synthesis.
Sure, you could sit in the sun at the beach and you may make vitamin D, but, a recent position statement from the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that we obtain our vitamin D from food and supplements and not rely on unprotected exposure to the sun. Why? Unprotected sun exposure over time can lead to aging and skin cancer. Their statement also indicates that some individuals, namely those with dark skin, the elderly, people sensitive to sun exposure, obese individuals, those with fat malabsorption problems and of course those of us who avoid unprotected sun exposure, may need higher doses of vitamin D to meet their needs (and this should be discussed with your personal physician).
What’s the bottom line here? Enjoy the sun’s rays under an umbrella or with sunscreen on. There’s no sense in aging your skin and putting yourself at risk for skin cancer when you can get your vitamin D in other ways.
Taking a daily vitamin D supplement is an easy way to make sure you get enough each day. You can adjust the dosage according to how much you may need to either achieve optimal blood levels or maintain. You can find out what your vitamin D blood level is by being tested by your doctor.
.png)
Powered by Compendium Blogware
Comments for Vitamin D from the Sun or Supplements?