Sunlight & Vitamins

The sunshine vitamin may protect against a host of diseases, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon. What's more, sunlight has other hidden benefits—like protecting against depression, insomnia, and an overactive immune system.

Sunlight is the best and only natural source of vitamin D. Unlike dietary or supplementary vitamin D, when you get your ‘D’ from sunshine your body takes what it needs, and de-metabolizes any extra. Because too much ‘D’ from dietary supplements may cause the body to over-process calcium, nobody really knows for sure how much supplementary vitamin D is safe. On the other hand, sunlight-induced vitamin D doesn’t have that problem – it’s the way your body is intended to make it!

Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D. Production by the body is rapid and prolific when you sunbathe. Obtaining 15 to 20 minutes of midday summer sun can generate 10,000 IU, which is equivalent to 100 glasses of milk or 50 prenatal vitamins. Because of skin health concerns, continuous over-exposure to midday summer sun is never recommended. The best solution is 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure during non-peak hours three to four times a week.

Unlike most vitamins and minerals, vitamin D is not found in a large number of food sources. Most of the vitamin D in our bodies comes from the chemical process that begins when the sun's ultraviolet light strikes the skin. The liver and kidneys transform the vitamin D synthesized by the skin into a more usable and potent form.

Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of bone weakness, heart disease, hypertension, obesity, depression, influenza, colds, inflammation and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and type 1 diabetes. Severe vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets, or failure of bone to mineralize. The National Institutes of Health reports an adequate intake of vitamin D for males and females aged 19 to 50 is 5 mcg or 200 international units (IU.) Many health experts believe this level is too low. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University recommends adults take 2,000 IU (50 mcg) of supplemental vitamin D daily.