In today's world, one billion people are not getting the recommended daily amount of vitamin D (1000-2000 IU/day). One of the most underrated nutrients, vitamin D is essential in preventing osteoporosis, depression, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, diabetes and obesity.
The major concern is very few foods supply enough of the vitamin naturally. Supplements and fortified milk are not natural, plus it would require consuming an unhealthy amount to get enough of the nutrient. Even when found in tuna, salmon and other oily fish, the source rarely provides more than a few hundred IUs of vitamin D.
So what is the most effective, reliable, and natural source of vitamin D? Sunshine.
That's right - the body naturally produces vitamin D when sunlight touches our skin. Just 10-15 minutes a day of direct sun exposure supplies 3,000-20,000 IU depending on the time of day, season, location, and skin color.
Due to skin cancer concerns, many skeptics question the "sunshine vitamin" up until now. Recent studies have shown that even if too much sun leads to skin cancer, too little sun could be much more harmful. We are not asking you to go bake on the beach for hours, but 15 minutes of sun a few times a week can be extremely beneficial to your health. With its advantages, the nutrient could help prevent 30 deaths for each one death caused by skin cancer.
Forget what you’ve heard all those years before. "No sun exposure is good" is no longer accurate. While trends are promoting the beauty of Mother Nature, go cherish what the outdoors offer and add a few years onto your life.
