A recent study found yet again, that vitamin D deficiency is linked to an increased risk of developing a variety of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer. Other studies have found that it is linked to hypertension, multiple sclerosis, thyroid deficiency, autoimmune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis) osteoporosis, and more.

One (1) hour of sunshine a week will elevate your vitamin D levels. Many fear the sun, due to the over reporting of the dangers of skin cancer.

According to the American Journal of Nutrition-maintaining blood concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D above 30 ng/mL) not only is important for maximizing intestinal calcium absorption but also may be important  to produce adequate amounts of  1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in all of the body’s cells. .

Although chronic excessive exposure to sunlight increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, the avoidance of all direct sun exposure increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency, which can have serious consequences. Monitoring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations yearly should help reveal vitamin D deficiencies. Sensible sun exposure (usually 5–10 min of exposure of the arms and legs or the hands, arms, and face, 2 or 3 times per week) and increased dietary and supplemental vitamin D intakes are reasonable approaches to guarantee vitamin D sufficiency

Watch ABC news report on Vitamin D deficiency

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Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease