Vitamin Sunshine: The Wonders of D

By, Robyn Latman, Esq.

They call Vitamin D the Sunshine Vitamin.  Were you thrilled to see some sunshine during the past few days?  Even though we are in the heart of Winter, and we expect frost in the Northeast, the sun has been shining, and the air is crisp.  The heat is on, and the windows are open.  If you rent an apartment, you may not have control over your climate.  Perhaps you even wish for some snow to cool things down.   

Are you longing for Old Man Winter and his whipping winds?

 It’s usually around the beginning of March when most of us dream of Spring.  We look forward to the chirping of the birds and the warmth of the sun.   This year, however, the birds seem to have stayed local. 

Did you know that most of us don’t get enough Vitamin D throughout the year?  About 86% of Americans are deficient in this necessary vitamin.   

The sunshine vitamin helps us to absorb calcium, and it promotes strong teeth and bones.  When you are deficient in Vitamin D, your bones break down to supply calcium to the rest of your body.  Vitamin D also prevents against cardiovascular disease.  At optimal levels, it offers protection against many cancers, depression, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.  

Is there a spot in your home where the sun comes in?  Maybe you have a chair in that spot where you read a book and turn your face to the warmth.  Or maybe your cat has claimed that spot as its own.   This is the spot where plants will thrive or deliveries from the florist will bloom. 

This miracle vitamin is produced when sunlight hits the skin.  Specifically, it is the UVB rays, the good rays, that we need in order to make Vitamin D in our body.  When we consider that sunscreens have been blocking these protective rays for the past 25 years and we factor in the amount of time that we spend indoors, it’s no surprise that most of us are deficient. 

Scientists are taking a new look at sunshine, and you should, too. 

A daily dose of 15 minutes of summertime sun gets your body the D that it needs.  During the months when the sun won’t shine, we need to eat foods that contain Vitamin D to maintain an optimal level.  Good sources of Vitamin D are egg yolks, mushrooms, dairy products including milk, butter and cream, and oily fish such as salmon, herring and tuna.  Make the choices that work best for your taste buds. 

So, make it a point to get out into the fresh air and sunshine for 15 minutes each sunny day, and fill up on these healthy foods to make sure that you meet your requirement for Vitamin D.  Your body will thank you, and so will your mood.