6 Reasons Why Sunshine Is Good for You!

There’s a reason why vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin.” Our amazing bodies must know that it’s important for our health, because they produce it in response to sun exposure, specifically UVB rays.

Below are some of the reasons why vitamin D is so important and how to be sure you’re getting enough.

How to Get Enough Vitamin D

OK, so knowing how important it is to get vitamin D—and that most people don’t get enough—what can you do to help ensure an adequate daily supply of vitamin D? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Whenever possible, choose food high in vitamin D such as: wild-caught salmon, trout, mackerel, canned tuna and eel; egg yolks; mushroom grown in ultra-violet light; cereals, dairy products and orange juices fortified with vitamin D; and beef or calf liver.
2. Supplement with a good multivitamin or cod-liver oil. Check with your doctor before choosing a dosage; too much vitamin D can be toxic.
3. Good ole sunshine! Anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of unprotected exposure two or three times a week should be enough. But beware of over-exposure: Too much sun can do some serious damage, so you’ll want to use a good mineral-based sunscreen if you’re going to be outdoors longer than 20 – 25 minutes. (Note: chemical-based sunscreens can absorb into the bloodstream.)

Between 50% and 90% of vitamin D in our bodies is produced by the skin’s exposure to the sun, with the remainder coming from our diet. According to Dr. Michael Holick, professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at the Boston University Medical Campus, summer sun between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. is best. “If your shadow is longer than your body height, you can’t make any vitamin D,” he said.