Getting your Vitamin D
Drum roll, please... by the end of this, I'm going to tell you to sunbathe.
Contrary to popular belief, all Estheticians aren't anti-sun; we are just pro sun safety. We need ample Vitamin D for our health, and though it's in many foods, we still aren't getting enough.
FACT: 40% of American adults have a vitamin D deficiency
When the sun hits your skin, a chemical reaction with the cholesterol in your skin triggers vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D is vital for health because it helps with the absorption of other vitamins and minerals. A lack of this essential vitamin plays a role in immune diseases, diabetes, cancers, and heart disease. Common symptoms when you have a deficiency in D include fatigue, muscle weakness, pain, and depression.
Supplements and some foods can help boost your vitamin D levels, but the best way to get your perfect dose is to get it directly from the sun.
The speed at which your skin can convert vitamin D is relative to the amount of melanin (pigment) you have. A Norwegian study showed that fair-skinned girls could create up to 20,000 IU of vitamin D in 30 minutes! If your skin is darker it takes a little longer to get your daily dose.
Here is where I'm going to seem like I grew two heads... You need to do a little sunbathing for your health.
If you are going to be out sunning for your health, let's not ruin your skin and speed up the aging process. There are safe ways to collect your Vitamin D naturally:
- First of all, avoid midday sun when the rays are the strongest and most dangerous.
- Early morning sun to be the best - go 'sunning' before 10 am
- Spend 15 to 30 minutes in the sun three times a week in shorts and a tank top
- Still use SPF on your face and chest (they get enough already)
