It’s summertime so, let the sunshine in!
The most natural way to get the Vitamin D that your body needs is to take a step outside and let the sunlight hit your skin.
When your skin is exposed to the sunlight, the sun’s ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays combine with a type of cholesterol in your skin to make Vitamin D3.
There are two major types of Vitamin D, Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is known to be more effective than Vitamin D2 at raising the overall level of Vitamin D in your blood.
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Why YOU Need Vitamin D
Vitamin D allows your body to absorb calcium and phosphorus. Without these minerals, your body does not have the ability to grow strong healthy bones.
Rickets is the disease that occurs when your bones do not have the proper minerals to form strong bones. Instead, the body forms bones that are softened and deformed.
Along with building strong bones, Vitamin D helps your body maintain a healthy immune system. You may not be suffering from Rickets, but studies have shown that you are at higher risk for back pain, depression, obesity, and cancer if you are Vitamin D deficient.
Why Aren’t You Getting Enough Vitamin D
1. Too Much Time Indoors
If the thought of spending time in the sun makes you frown, you may not be getting enough Vitamin D. Spending much of your time indoors will not allow your body to produce Vitamin D from sunlight exposure.
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2. Dark Complexion
If you have a darker complexion, the melanin that gives your skin its color can decrease the amount of Vitamin D made by sunlight exposure. You may need to spend more time out in the sun to get an adequate amount of Vitamin D from sunlight.
3. Applying Sunscreen Too Early
Although sunscreen protects our skin from harmful UV rays, it can also block the UVB rays our skin uses to produce Vitamin D. Allowing yourself to get at least 10 minutes of sun before you apply sunscreen can help your body get the Vitamin D it needs while protecting your skin.
4. Health Conditions
Digestive conditions present difficulty in absorbing Vitamin D from the foods that you eat. If you’re overweight or obese, the number of fat cells can decrease the amount of Vitamin D circulating in the bloodstream. Kidney and liver diseases make it difficult for your body to process Vitamin D which can lead to deficiency.
5. Not Enough In Your Diet
Great news, you can get Vitamin D from the foods you eat! Foods like salmon, tuna, fortified grains (cereals, breads) and dairy (yogurt, milk, cheese), nut milk, mushrooms, and egg yolks contain a significant amount of Vitamin D.
6. Your Health Won’t Allow You To Soak Up The Sun
Some health conditions and prescribed medications may limit the amount of time you can spend in direct sunlight. If you fall into this category, supplementation may be a good option to meet Vitamin D requirements. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine the optimal dosage of Vitamin D for your body.
Without Vitamin D, you would literally crumble. Have some fun in the sun this summer and let the sun's rays work their magic because sunshine truly does a body good!
Dr. Candace McMillon-Dantley is the health-empowering creator of The Doc Knows and she’s on a mission to motivate you to a life of health. She has a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. When she’s not health writing, she is health motivating and educating during her interactive presentations on healthy nutrition, self-care and conditions of the body. Her experiences as a business owner, chiropractor, wife and mom of two resonate and relate with her audiences. Connect with Dr. Candace on Instagram @drcandace.
