When we’re looking for ways to boost vitamins in our body then we might turn to food as the main source of these nutrients. Although, not all sources have to be eaten and this is true for Vitamin D.
Scared of the sun?
Skin cancer affects many people in the UK and a lot of cases are linked to overexposure to the sun’s rays. In order to protect our wellness, we’re regularly reminded by health bodies to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm. We’re also advised to use sunscreen to stop our skin from burning. It’s clear that these measures can reduce our chance of getting skin cancer, but now experts are saying we could benefit from getting some sunlight, as this helps our body to make Vitamin D.
What does Vitamin D do?
One of the most important roles of this nutrient is to help our bones absorb calcium. When we don’t get enough our bones become porous and we’re at high risk of developing osteoporosis. The vitamin has many other roles in our wellbeing, such as decreasing the size of tumours, protecting arteries and reducing our blood pressure.
How much sunlight
The NHS explains that it’s difficult to set the amount of time we all need to spend in direct sunlight to get enough Vitamin D in our bodies, as we all have different skin tones. A basic guide is we should leave off the sunscreen and bath in sunlight for about ten to 15 minutes a day during the summer. Although we ought to adjust this if we’re fair-skinned or have skin sensitivities. The body also says it’s not possible to get enough of the mineral this way during winter, which is when we can benefit from Vitamin D supplements.
Dietary Vitamin D
As well as taking supplements there are other great sources of the nutrient available through food. Eggs, fish liver oils, and fortified milk and cereals are excellent ways to boost the vitamin in our bodies and protect our health from future bone and cardiovascular problems. GPs can give us more information on healthy Vitamin D levels, so we can get the balance just right.
Comments are closed.