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Vitamin D is essential for good health, and ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation from the sun is the primary source of vitamin D for most people on Earth. Among its many health benefits, Vitamin D boosts the immune system, improves the mood and helps in building strong bones.The Vitamin D level, through UVB exposure, has been observed to be inversely correlated with a growing number of conditions and diseases.

The current RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamin D is 400 IU. A single sun exposure to the face, neck, arms and legs for 10-15 minutes can produce anywhere from 3000 IU to 10,000 IU of vitamin D depending on your skin type. Short and frequent exposures with breaks in between are safer than long exposures.

Excess amounts produced are stored in body fat for later use. Dark skinned people make less vitamin D from the same amount of sun exposure as compared to light skinned people.

Scientific studies have found that Vitamin D deficiency is responsible for diseases such as rickets, osteomalacia, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

People who live at higher latitudes (northern areas) have higher chances of developing diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

Lack of sunlight during the winter months causes a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder or SAD. It is commonly treated either by bright light therapy or vitamin D supplementation in the diet.

Sunlight exposure provides numerous health benefits such as:

• It strengthens the immune system
• It improves the mood
• It makes the bones stronger
• It improves the heart function
• It regulates blood sugar
• It helps in healing skin diseases such as psoriasis
• It prevents tooth decay
• It prevents 20 different types of cancer

Lower immunity due to lack of sunlight is the main reason behind flu outbreaks during the winter season . People can protect themselves from flu epidemic by taking short and frequent sunlight exposures.If sunlight is inadequate, Vitamin D can be obtained from natural sources like butter, eggs & cod liver oil.

References

1. Grant WB. Epidemiological evaluations of sun-induced vitamin D. Solar Radiation and Human Health. 2008.
2. Holick MF. Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. December 2004;80(6):1678S-1688S.
3. Grant WB. An estimate of premature cancer mortality in the U.S. due to inadequate doses of solar ultraviolet-B radiation. Cancer. 2002;94:1867-75.
4. Ponsonby A-L., et al. Ultraviolet radiation and autoimmune disease: insights from epidemiological research. Toxicology. 2002;181:71-8.
5. Rostand SG. Ultraviolet light may contribute to geographic and racial blood pressure differences. Hypertension 1979;30:150-6.
6. Hobday R. The Healing Sun. Findhorn Press. 1999.
7. Cannell JJ., et al. Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiology and Infection. 2006;134(6):1129-1140.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.