Vitamin Sunshine – The Wonders of Vitamin D
Were you thrilled to see some sunshine during the past few days? It seems like forever since warm weather was here. This winter has been especially punishing. I can’t remember the last time that we had so many days of snow. It’s usually around the beginning of March when most of us dream of Spring, and we look forward to the chirping of the birds and the warmth of the sun. Did you know that most of us don’t get enough Vitamin D throughout the year? About 86% of Americans are deficient in this necessary vitamin.
The sunshine vitamin helps us to absorb calcium, and it promotes strong teeth and bones. When you are deficient in Vitamin D, your bones break down to supply calcium to the rest of your body. Vitamin D also prevents against cardiovascular disease. At optimal levels, it offers protection against many cancers, depression, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
This miracle vitamin is produced when sunlight hits the skin. Specifically, it is the UVB rays, the good rays, that we need to make the vitamin in our body. When we consider that sunscreens have been blocking these protective rays for the past 25 years and add in the amount of time that we spend indoors, it’s no surprise that most of us are deficient.
Scientists are taking a new look at sunshine, and you should, too. A daily dose of 15 minutes of summertime sun gets your body the D that it needs. During the months when the sun won’t shine, we need to eat foods that contain Vitamin D to maintain an optimal level. Good sources of Vitamin D are egg yolks, mushrooms, dairy products including milk, butter and cream, and oily fish such as salmon, herring and tuna.
So, get out into the fresh air and sunshine for 15 minutes each sunny day, and fill up on these healthy foods to make sure that you meet your requirement for Vitamin D. Your body will thank you, and so will your mood.
