Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamin needed by the body but ironically it has also been one of the most overlooked or disregarded. Commonly known as the sunshine vitamin, just as the name suggests, aside from getting it from food sources like any other vitamin, it is also produced in the body through exposure to sunlight.
Other common names of Vitamin D are calcitriol, calciferol, ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), 1,25-D. Scientifically, it is known as calcitriol, calciferol, ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), 1,25-D and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. Generally, vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorous in the body. By doing so, it helps keep bone and teeth healthy and strong. But what many people do not know is that it also aids in the body’s overall health in so many other ways. Studies have shown that getting enough vitamin D reduces the risk of getting certain cancers such as colon, pancreatic, prostate, breast and ovarian cancer. It can also aid people with other medical conditions like diabetes, arthritis, high-blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and infections. One can say it is the Super vitamin of all vitamins.
So how do I get vitamin D?
The most effective way of getting Vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight. Some amount of natural vitamin D can be found in fish, oysters, salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines as well as cod liver oil. It is also in some fortified milk, yogurt and cheeses, as well as in some orange juice, and certain fortified cereals. Since there’s little natural vitamin D found in food, some even take it in a form of dietary supplement pill. But since not so much of this vitamin is available in food, the best way to get enough is through getting enough sunlight. The UV rays in sunlight induces the skin to make the vitamin naturally in the body after it has been exposed to it.
Isn’t too much sunlight also harmful to the body and may even cause skin cancer?
Too much of everything is of course bad for anyone. The key is moderation. Studies have shown that people getting enough time outdoors basking in the sun, is less likely to get skin cancer, than people who is don’t go out as much, and irregularly exposed to the sun. Irregular meaning they seldom go outdoors and get sunlight but when they do, sometimes they expose themselves too much or too little. This kind of pattern will more likely heighten their risk of getting skin cancer than those who regularly get enough sunlight since their skin have adapted to it quite well and they are more protected from UV rays. In addition to the immediate danger of sunburn, for people who are not used to the sun, exposure to ultraviolet light can also cause:
- wrinkled, sagging skin
- impaired immune system
- damage to the eyes, including cataracts
So make sure that you are regularly outdoors and getting sufficient sunlight. You can never get too much vitamin D from the sun. It makes your skin less prone to melanoma or skin cancer, and it gives you enough vitamin D to make sure you are protected from other deadly cancer diseases and health complications. Go ahead, bask in that sunlight!
