10/11/2021
Vitamin D - a fat-soluble vitamin that the skin produces when it gets exposed to sunlight. It is an extremely important vitamin that has many important functions throughout the body including supporting bone health by enabling the absorption of calcium, promoting muscle health, modulating the immune system, and reducing inflammation which helps prevent diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. But, unfortunately, the deficiency of Vitamin D deficiency is very common being estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide have low blood levels of it.
In the last 1 year of the pandemic, most of us have not gotten enough sunlight which is the only powerful source of vitamin D. The worst part is that most people do not realize that they’re vitamin D deficient as symptoms are generally subtle. You may not recognize them easily even if they’re significantly affecting your quality of life.
So, now, what can be done?
Sunlight exposure is the only way, people. Spending even a short time (15 - 20 minutes) in the sun can provide the body all the Vitamin D it needs for the day.
The best time to soak yourself in the sun to get the maximum vitamin D is between 10 am to 3 pm. At this time, the UVB rays are intense and it is said that the body is more efficient in making vitamin D at this time. If it is not possible around this time, make sure you spend more time (45 minutes to 1 hour) between 7 am to 10 am.
Vitamin D is made from cholesterol in the skin, which means one needs to expose lots of skin to sunlight to get enough vitamin.
Expose your arms, legs, back, and abdomen to get more of this vitamin. Do not forget to expose your back as it allows your body to produce the maximum. You can choose to wear a tank top and shorts. You may wear your hat and goggles to protect your face and eyes.
Please note - Sun's UVB rays cannot pe*****te through the window. So, people who sit next to sunny windows do not get vitamin D from the sun, contrary to what they believe.