Forums: January 2010 Kickstart Forum Archive: Getting Vitamin D from the sun
Created on: 01/06/10 06:20 PM Views: 1502 Replies: 7
Joalie24 Joined: 01/05/10 Posts: 15	Getting Vitamin D from the sun Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 6:20 PM Living in Buffalo, which I love, unfortunately means very little sunlight this time of year. Does anyone know how much time do you need in the sun in order for your body to make Vitamin D? And how much skin needs to be showing in order for that process to occur? I love all of the positive comments and ideas people are sharing in the forum, keep it coming!
	Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Susan Levin Joined: 12/26/09 Posts: 1191	RE: Getting Vitamin D from the sun Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 8:46 PM Hey! It doesn't take much sun - 10 to 20 minutes a day. Just on your hands and forearms would do it. But you live so far north, and I suspect you are indoors a lot, and when you are not, you're bundled up outside. You can ask your healthcare provider to test your vitamin D levels. Then based on where you are, think about supplementation. Susan Levin, MS, RD PCRM Director of Nutrition Education
	Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
serenevannoy Joined: 12/28/09 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 294	RE: Getting Vitamin D from the sun Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 9:11 PM My doc says a surprising number of people don't know they're deficient in Vitamin D. I got tested and my levels were dangerously low, so I went on a megasupplement, and now I'm down to a daily regular dose. It's good to get this checked especially if you live in the northerly climes. Serene Vannoy, Oakland, CA -- My daily Kickstart blog: http://serenecooking.livejournal.com/tag/kickstart
	Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Susan Levin Joined: 12/26/09 Posts: 1191	RE: Getting Vitamin D from the sun Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 6:47 AM Exactly Serene. Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common. The funny thing is most docs don't even think to check. I had to be very clear that I wanted it checked in my blood work recently. Even with that clarification, the lab almost didn't do it. I just don't think they are used to this request. But hopefully as more and more people become aware, this will be part of the regular check up. Susan Levin, MS, RD PCRM Director of Nutrition Education
	Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Joalie24 Joined: 01/05/10 Posts: 15	RE: Getting Vitamin D from the sun Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 2:12 PM Thank you both for your helpful responses!! I really appreciate it. I will definitely get my levels checked, since our 10 day forecast shows only clouds/snow One follow-up question I have is, do the 10-20 minutes of sun time need to be uninterrupted in order for the process to work? I try to be in the sun as much as possible when it is out, but lately that hasn't been the case. Thank you again for the help!
	Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Susan Levin Joined: 12/26/09 Posts: 1191	RE: Getting Vitamin D from the sun Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 2:29 PM Again, great question. I'm not sure this specific issue has been tested - 15 mins at once, 5 minutes 3x per day, run out side 15 times a day for a minute. But here are some details as we do know them as stated by the National Institutes of Health (this is a long post, sorry): Most people meet their vitamin D needs through exposure to sunlight. Season, geographic latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content, and sunscreen are among the factors that affect UV radiation exposure and vitamin D synthesis. The UV energy above 42 degrees north latitude (a line approximately between the northern border of California and Boston) is insufficient for cutaneous vitamin D synthesis from November through February; in far northern latitudes, this reduced intensity lasts for up to 6 months. In the United States, latitudes below 34 degrees north (a line between Los Angeles and Columbia, South Carolina) allow for cutaneous production of vitamin D throughout the year. Complete cloud cover reduces UV energy by 50%; shade reduces it by 60%. UVB radiation does not penetrate glass, so exposure to sunshine indoors through a window does not produce vitamin D. Sunscreens with a sun protection factor of 8 or more appear to block vitamin D-producing UV rays, although in practice people generally do not apply sufficient amounts, cover all sun-exposed skin, or reapply sunscreen regularly. Skin likely synthesizes some vitamin D even when it is protected by sunscreen as typically applied. The factors that affect UV radiation exposure and research to date on the amount of sun exposure needed to maintain adequate vitamin D levels make it difficult to provide general guidelines. It has been suggested by some vitamin D researchers, for example, that approximately 5-30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM at least twice a week to the face, arms, legs, or back without sunscreen usually lead to sufficient vitamin D synthesis. Susan Levin, MS, RD PCRM Director of Nutrition Education
	Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Wild4Stars Joined: 12/27/09 Location: Florida Posts: 832	RE: Getting Vitamin D from the sun Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 2:42 PM I live in Florida and I try to spend 10-15 minutes outside per day. I do miss some days, and of course there are those rainy days. My next annual check up I'm going to ask to have mine checked. Thanks for all the input! Vikki ~ Wild4Stars@gmail.com
	Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Joalie24 Joined: 01/05/10 Posts: 15	RE: Getting Vitamin D from the sun Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 7:36 PM Thank you again for all of that extremely valuable information!!! That is more helpful to me than all other conversations I've had with my doctor. I really appreciate it!
	Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom

New Topic Reply Subscription Options

Page: 1

There are 61 active user sessions right now.
Registered Users Online: jesseka