Is the sun a reliable source of vitamin D?
Is the sun a reliable source of vitamin D?
The sun is our best natural source of vitamin D. Spending even a short time in the sun can provide the body with all of the vitamin D it needs for the day. According to the Vitamin D Council, this could be: 15 minutes for a person with light skin.
How long do you have to be in the sun to get 100% vitamin D?
In search of vitamin D Under the right circumstances, 10 to 15 minutes of sun on the arms and legs a few times a week can generate nearly all the vitamin D we need.
How can I absorb vitamin D better?
Better Absorbed With Meals Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it does not dissolve in water and is absorbed best in your bloodstream when paired with high-fat foods. For this reason, it’s recommended to take vitamin D supplements with a meal to enhance absorption.
How much vitamin D does the sun really produce?
Being in the sun long enough to produce a pinkish tint after 24 hours can produce 10,000 to 25,000 IU of vitamin D (Holick, 2008). Caveats: People with darker skin have natural sun protection and need three to five times as much time in the sun to produce an equivalent amount of vitamin D as pale-skinned people (Nair, 2012).
Is the Sun the best source of vitamin D?
The sun is one of the best sources of vitamin D for the human body. Several factors affect how much vitamin D a person’s body can make from exposure to the sun, such as time of day, geographical location, skin color, and wearing sunscreen. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for the body. The body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium.
Does vitamin D really come from the Sun?
The body makes vitamin D when skin is directly exposed to the sun, and most people meet at least some of their vitamin D needs this way. Skin exposed to sunshine indoors through a window will not produce vitamin D. Cloudy days, shade, and having dark-colored skin also cut down on the amount of vitamin D the skin makes.
What is the connection between the Sun and vitamin D?
The main function of vitamin D is to promote calcium absorption in your body. You can get vitamin D through your diet and by getting out in the sun, as long as you don’t have sunscreen on. Sunscreens (especially SPF 8 or higher) block the skin’s absorption of the vitamin.
