It has recently come to our attention that more and more people are   diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency than ever before. The over emphasis of sun protection along with an advancing sedentary lifestyle and a love affair with fast food has caused more Americans to suffer from a lack of natural vitamin D absorption from outdoor exposure to the sun as well as proper intake of vitamin D through our diets.

Recent studies show that vitamin D has beneficial effects that extend to reducing the risk of colon, breast and prostate cancers. And it’s been known that vitamin D helps maintain strong bones in older adults.

By exposing our bodies to the sun’s natural UV light, we produce our own source of vitamin D. By avoiding sunlight all the time and slathering ourselves with sunscreen when doing outdoor activities, we lose our most effective source of vitamin D. This is not to say that you should lie out on the beach and tan all day the way we used to before we knew about the dangers of skin cancer. All that is required to increase your levels of vitamin D is 15 minutes a day of sun exposure without sunscreen, preferably outside of the peak sunlight hours of 10AM to 2PM. So make it a point to take a walk, garden or just lounge in the sun.
While limited daily sun exposure is the best way to get vitamin D, there are other dietary options that can provide additional sources of this crucial vitamin. The best way to supplement your diet is by eating large quantities of fish such as Sockeye Salmon, which has 1070 IU’s (international units) of vitamin D in just one 6oz. serving. If salmon is not your favorite type fish consider other options such as Albacore Tuna and Silver Salmon, which offer 925 and 747 IU’s of vitamin D respectively. Make sure to include other dairy products such as cheese, milk yogurt and cottage cheese. There are also Vitamin D supplements that are easy to take and are really the best way to make sure you are getting plenty of Vitamin D in your diet throughout the year. Many people do not have the option to get enough UV light from outdoor sources due to climate limitations. Cold winter weather is not the best option for proper Vitamin D absorption.

So practice safe sun habits and by all means use a high quality sunscreen daily but don’t neglect your vitamin D levels.

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