Jul 18 2008
Vitamin D & Sunlight
The hot summer sun has me wondering if there are any health benefits to lavishing my skin in the bright summer rays. I know it’s mostly bad, and I should always wear sunscreen, but there is a link to sun exposure and Vitamin D. So I trolled the Internet and compiled these reasons why sunlight is good for us!
A few minutes of sunlight can stimulate Vitamin D production in the skin. While direct sunlight and UV rays can damage the skin, 10 minutes may be ok if you remember to apply sunscreen afterwards. However, during rainy days, the winter, or in cities with high levels of smog, exposure to natural sunlight is inadequate to stimulate the production of enough D. In such cities or during these seasons, a Vitamin D supplement or fortified milk is recommended.
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Additionally, vitamin D comes in two forms, D2 and D3. D3 is the preferred form. The amount of recommended supplement also varies greatly with age. 200 IU (international units) a day for children and adults under 50
400 IU/day for ages 51-70
600 IU/day for ages 70 or over