We will tell you more about the time in the sun – how much is needed for vitamin D to be synthesized in your skin? Vitamin D is also known as “sunshine” vitamin. It is produced in your skin, during the sun exposure. Vitamin D is actually a hormone, but we call it ‘vitamin’. It is very important for overall health. It plays an important role in several processes.
Vitamin D is crucial for the growth and development of your bones. It is also important for the quality of your teeth. It is closely related to your immune system, calcium and phosphorus absorption and other important processes that normally take place in the human body.
What Is Vitamin D Deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency can be a very serious condition that can lead to certain complications. The problem with this condition is that the symptoms show up when it is already too late. Another problem with this condition is that it is often misdiagnosed, or even undiagnosed. The symptoms usually resemble other conditions, so people tend to believe that some of these symptoms come from other factors. Depression is one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. This can be very misleading, because people often believe that depression is caused by something else. Fatigue and general weakness can indeed be caused by any other factor, and vitamin D deficiency is the last thing on one’s mind. In fact, people know very little about vitamin D deficiency. If we knew more, we would be able to prevent this condition and stop it before it becomes severe.
The Sources of Vitamin D – the Sun
Vitamin D can be found in certain types of food. Food items like egg yolk, meat, fish and cereals, as well as some dairy products, all contain this vitamin in certain amounts. However, these amounts are not sufficient, so people have to use other methods of getting this vitamin.
One of the methods to get vitamin D naturally is to spend time in the sun. According to what some doctors say, fifteen minutes in the sun every day is enough to get proper dose of vitamin D. Now, this can be a problem for people who live in the cold climate conditions, with not much sun. Some people use tanning beds as a substitute for natural sunrays, but these devices can trigger other health issues. We all know that certain types of cancer (as well as other skin conditions) are closely related to tanning beds. This makes us wonder: what can we do to get vitamin D, if there is not enough sun every day?
You can do several things to get vitamin D. Use the natural sun! Whenever you get the chance, go outside and enjoy the sun. Of course, you should not spend hours in the sun, because that could give you skin burns. As we said, fifteen minutes to half an hour is the time during which vitamin D can be synthesized in the skin.
You can eat foods that are rich in this vitamin, and you can use some vitamin D supplements. However, you should not use any supplements without your doctor’s knowledge.