Today we are bombarded with urgent warnings about the dangers of being out in the Sun. However we need sunshine in order to be healthy, in fact it is very important for our health. The body manufactures Vitamin D by the interaction of the sun's rays and the oil in our skin. Additionally we can obtain vitamin D from various foods such as bone meal, butter, egg, egg yolks, fish liver oils, herring, beef liver, organ meats (such as lamb kidney, chicken liver and heart) and sardines.
A great many health practitioners feel that we are about to become a vitamin D deficient society because we are avoiding sunlight due to all of the press concerning skin damage and skin cancer. Additionally many health practitioners are also concerned that many items of our diet are fortified with a crystalline form of vitamin D which is an artificial version of the natural form and that that too can cause health problems. Examples of foods that are fortified with artificial vitamin D are cow's milk, nut milks, packaged cheese, etc.
So just what are the benefits of Vitamin D? You may know calcium and phosphorous are necessary for strong bones and teeth but vitamin D enables the body to properly utilize these minerals. As a result it is an important factor in the healing of bones and also in the treatment/prevention of osteoporosis. Vitamin D helps normalize the immune function since it aids in the assimilation of vitamin A and when taken with vitamins A and C can aid in preventing colds. It also is helpful in the treatment of conjunctivitis. Assists in normalizing the parathyroid, aids in healing fibroids and endometriosis, effective in the treatment of free radical diseases (arthritis, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, lung dysfunction, pancreatitis, skin lesions, aging, heart disease and cancer) and some neuromuscular problems, helps to normalize skin issues such as dermatitis and psoriasis.
I think it is time to take a more balanced approach about spending time in the sun. And I am sure you are thinking, "Well OK, I'll take a commonsense approach such as spending time outside in the early morning or early evening when the sun's rays are not strong enough to damage the skin but can still provide the ultraviolet light needed for my health." It sounds like a plan, however that would do little to provide you with adequate amounts of Vitamin D.
The ultraviolet radiation has three different wavelengths; the one that reacts with the cholesterol in the oil of our skin to produce vitamin D is only available between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, the very hours we have been told to avoid sun exposure. In fact 20-120 minutes (depending on the skin type and color) of midday sun exposure will form adequate vitamin D. Since it is estimated that we need 4,000 IU of vitamin D and around 100-200 IU is produced for every 5% of the body surface exposed, you would have to have only 15% of your body covered. Clearly there needs to be a balance between sunshine derived vitamin D and dietary sources.
Even in Australia which is one of the sunniest countries in the world studies have shown that in some areas of the country 43% of women suffered a mild vitamin D deficiency and 11% had moderately severe during winter. For those times when we are outside all day long and need to prevent over-exposure to the aspects of ultraviolet radiation that spawn sunburn we need a better array of sun block products that do not have all the ingredients that have been linked to dermatitis and cancer. There are some available but check the labels carefully most contain ingredients that are detrimental to our health.
So if you have been avoiding the sun you probably have a need for Vitamin D; if you think that might be a possibility call me for an appointment.
~Heather Mikayla
Assisting mankind in taking responsibility for their health and well-being.
