Sun exposure and Vitamin D
The flavour of the month is certainly vitamin D. Everywhere you turn, you are bombarded with new studies which show that a lack of Vitamin D can lead to everything from obesity to caesarian sections. And it IS an essential fatty acid. But how much do we need to prevent all these problems?
When I was a child, growing up in Manitoba, Canada, we got our teaspoon of cod-liver oil each day. We also played outside, walked or cycled everywhere, and generally spent time in the sunshine. Even in the middle of winter, there was plenty of sun most of the time. It seems that all of a sudden, nobody is going outside.
Why is there suddenly a major outbreak of Vitamin D deficiency? Is there an epidemic of rickets? Or is it all academic? Are the studies just theoretical, or are they actual studies into people with Vitamin D deficiency? Maybe the studies are backwards. Maybe it’s our sedentary indoor lifestyles which are causing the problems, and lack of Vitamin D is incidental? Maybe.
So get off your butt and get some simple exercise; get outdoors regularly. Not so much that you will get skin cancer – be sensible! A nice walk to the shop or school, hang out the washing, you get the picture. Just 5 or 10 minutes per day is all you need.
Read also The Top 10 Health Breakthroughs for 2008
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Reader Comments
There are some pretty large studies that have been conducted recently–one in particular followed women with breast cancer. Those women who were not deficient in vitamin D were 70% more likely to live at least 10 years–pretty convincing. Also, there are fewer breast cancers the closer women live to the equator! I’m convinced–make sure to take D3–it really is a little extra insurance against cancer! (Can you tell I’m a big advocate for vitamin D??) Thanks for this article!
“So get off your butt and get some simple exercise; get outdoors regularly. Not so much that you will get skin cancer – be sensible!”
I couldn’t agree with this statement more!
You are so right about this problem – people are forgetting simple things like regular walk to the park or playground (if you have children
). I suppose it is out of fashion to walk – instead, people are taking all kinds of supplements or pills which can’t be that better when you compare them with natural cures like sun or fresh air.
I think I’m probably doing good in this department…. drink a ton of milk. Hopefully, that’s working!
Eating right and supplementing are good and necessary. However, the best source of vitamin D is the sun.
So get outside!
I thinking I’ve too much blogging now. I’m going for a walk…under the sun of course.