With summer here, we’ve all been reminded plenty of times to use sunscreen liberally. But sunshine isn’t always our enemy; in fact, UV rays are vital to our health. Vitamin D is synthesized in our skin with the help of UV rays, and not producing enough vitamin D can have a number of consequences. The most notable ailment related to vitamin D deficiency is rickets, but there are other, less obvious disorders as well. There is some evidence that the deficiency can lead to diabetes, cancer, and hypertension, among others.
Only about 15 minutes a day of sunlight is needed to for sufficient production of vitamin D. For people with darker skin, more sun exposure is needed because melanin blocks some of the UV rays. There is even ongoing research now to see if there is a link between lower vitamin D levels in African Americans and higher rates of cancer, stroke, and diabetes. In addition to sunlight, vitamin D can also be attained through diet choices and supplements. We are often told to avoid sunlight because of its link to skin cancer, but those concerns should be balanced with our need for UV in the production of vitamin D, which may actually stave off other cancers.
Read more from MSNBC, the NIH, and fwdailynews.com
