Sunshine & Vitamin D

Welcome to the wellness blog of Anderson Therapeutics…health tips and resources arrive here on Thirsty Thursday .

Quench topic for July is the importance of sunshine & Vitamin D.  In Utah we have dark winters, high altitudes, and valley’s that experience poor air quality.  Utahans refer to these dirty air days as inversion.  This lack of light, being female, and my Danish ancestry places me at high risk for Vitamin D deficiency.  Do you know your risk levels? 

Low levels of Vitamin D can lead to poor bone health, contribute to muscle weakness, skin conditions like psoriasis, and even feelings of depression.  Discuss your levels with your doctor – blood tests are the way that you learn if you are deficient.  Many medications interfere with Vitamin D levels including steroids, weight loss drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, Statins, diuretics, and even some fat-soluble Vitamins. 

Vitamin D is the sunshine Vitamin – our skin is the largest organ of the body, it regulates the amount of Vitamin D that we produce.  We cannot overdose on Vitamin D from sun exposure.  Moderate exposure time of about 10-20 minutes per day is ample for our skin to provide needed Vitamin D.  Play it safe, listen to your body, and learn what is best for you.  

Be Well!

Tiffany

*I am a Health Coach and Certified Health Education Specialist.  This advice is not meant to replace medical care.