As a mature Caucasian woman living in Utah I am at risk and have experienced low vitamin D levels. During the winter months pollution levels and the valley ‘inversion’ in my home town of Salt Lake minimizes sunlight. Along with the supplementation recommended by my doctor, the obvious solution for low vitamin D levels is sunlight. Our bodies largest organ, our skin, is designed to work together with the liver and kidneys to synthesize vitamin D with minimal exposure to the sun (about 20 minutes). Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, and when stored in the body, can sustain a person for around 2 months before the fat stores are depleted. Sunlight is free and when accessed naturally via the skin will never lead to overproduction and toxicity. Read more about sunlight deficiency here.
This advice is not a substitute for medical care. Speak to your doctor, read the research, and become informed. Sunlight as ‘light therapy’ has been used historically by mankind, referred to as heliotherapy and phototherapy. Medical uses of sunlight have treated conditions such as rickets, depression, arthritis, gout, psoriasis, scleroderma, acne, insomnia, fighting infection, and more.
Be Well! ~Tiffany
