Soak up the sun
Food, water, air, sunlight -- the basic items every living thing needs to survive.
Our
stomach growls when we need more food, we become thirsty when we need
more water, we know very quickly when we need more air... but what
alerts us when we need more sunlight?
The Environmental Protection Agency found that the average North American spends 90% of their time indoors.
That leaves very little time to get one of the most crucial nutrients - Vitamin D3 from the sun.
It
is estimated that 85% of the American public and 95% of senior citizens
are Vitamin D deficient. This deficiency has been linked to almost
every health condition known -- from heart disease to cancer to multiple
sclerosis.
Optimizing
your Vitamin D levels is one of the most powerful things you can do
naturally to protect your health and boost your immune system.
For this month's health resolution, focus on getting Vitamin D from the sun, a natural and free source, as much as possible.
As
different parts of the country get varying amounts of sunlight
throughout the year and everyone's skin pigment is different, the best
rule of thumb is to go outside and get some sun (without suntan lotion,
as it prevents 95% of Vitamin D production) until your skin turns light
pink -- not red. In sunny Florida, this may be only ten minutes, but in
Michigan in the winter, it could be 45 minutes. And if you don't get a
chance to get outside, you can supplement with Vitamin D.
Most people
need between 2,000 IU to 10,000 IU of Vitamin D a day to achieve
beneficial levels. However, the average American only gets approximately
300 IU a day from their diet -- which is why deficiency and disease linked to low Vitamin D levels is so prevalent.
When a plant is sick, the first thing we do is water it and move it into the sun. These should be the first steps humans take as well to prevent sickness and promote wellness.
Note: most tanning beds have minimal UVB rays which is what produces Vitamin D. Getting a sun burn is not healthy.
