Is The Sun Really That Bad For You?
It’s that time of year again and I for one am so happy! Summertime! Hallelujah! Summer is finally here.
And, it’s much needed after a very long winter! We’ll be seeing lots of warm sunny days spent poolside, relaxing at the beach, or maybe even on the lake. So, let’s talk about the sun. Is it really that harmful for you? I know that at this stage of life, we worry more about skin health and physical signs of aging far more than we have in the past. Our natural inclination is to stay in the shade and slather on the sun block. But, is the sun that harmful? And actually, dare I say that maybe it’s a little good for us? Allow me to explain.
While the sun can be damaging to the skin if you’re in it long enough to get burnt, a little bit of natural sun exposure is actually very good for overall health, because it’s the best source of naturally occurring vitamin D. Keep in mind that vitamin D acts more like a hormone than a vitamin in the body. Vitamin D is an important key to health at any age but in midlife, it’s more important than ever. That’s because it’s beneficial for mood, bone health, immune health, blood sugar balance, and heart health. Plus, vitamin D may provide protection against some cancers. Because vitamin D plays such a vital role in many important midlife health issues, you can see why getting enough of it through direct sunlight is so important.
This doesn’t mean that you have to sit and sun bathe for hours at a time- that will damage and age your skin more quickly. Actually, you can get your daily dose of vitamin D in a short amount of time, and the lighter your skin, the less time needed. For instance, a fair person gets enough vitamin D with only 20 minutes of direct sun exposure, while somebody with darker skin would need approximately 45 minutes of exposure. The problem is, every time you put on sunscreen, you’re blocking your body from absorbing the vitamin D it needs. So, this summer, make a point of getting out in the sunlight for at least 20 minutes to a half hour. You don’t need to be in a bathing suit for this, exposure on your hands, arms, and scalp will do the job. Just make sure you take advantage of the sun now, because in places like New England and other areas farther north of the equator, from October-May the sun is not high enough in the sky for you to get the vitamin D you need, even if you enjoy outdoor activities all year long.
Let me pause for a moment here to highlight something very important. Emotional balance/well-being is one of the most important factors for thriving in midlife. IF you struggle with emotional imbalance, mood swings, depression, or seasonal affective disorder, it’s absolutely imperative that you maintain a healthy level of vitamin D. So, you definitely want to take advantage of the summer months and spend time doing outdoor activities that you enjoy.
Take a walk with a friend
Ride a bike
Do some gardening
Adopt a morning stretch routine and do it outside.
There are so any ways to enjoy yourself and get a healthy dose of vitamin D from the sun!
Finally, a good vitamin D level from a functional nutrition standpoint is 50-100ng/ml. I really like to see the number over 50. So please keep this in mind through the summer, and make sure you get outside and enjoy the warm sunshine. Then, when October hits, consider getting your vitamin D levels tested. And, be sure to pick up a high-quality Vitamin D supplement, preferably one that also has vitamin K2. IF you’re in the normal range, maintain with 1000IUs a day. If you’re below range, consider taking more vitamin D, up to 5000IU’s a day.