How much Sunlight do you need?

 
It is very important that people obtain enough vitamin D as it is crucial in the development and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones. Sunlight exposure does stimulate the production of vitamin D in the body. However, most people do not need great amounts of sun exposure in order to produce vitamin D. An amount of 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure a couple of times a week, without the use of sunscreen, is normally sufficient for vitamin D production. After this amount of sun has been attained, a person should apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more.

There are other means by which people can attain vitamin D; sunlight is not the only resource for vitamin D production in the body, although it is a major source. Vitamin D is also found in foods which are supplemented with that vitamin such as fortified milk and cereals. There is also ample vitamin D in foods such as salmon, herring, mushrooms and eggs. People who are not able to get much sun exposure, such as many elderly people who remain indoors all day, must include good sources of vitamin in their daily diets.

Even though it is vitally important to utilize sunscreen on the body, a sunscreen with an SPF of 8 or higher will prevent ultraviolet rays from producing vitamin D in the body. However, it is important to utilize sunscreen routinely in order to help prevent the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure, such as skin cancer which can develop without the use of sunscreen. A small amount of sun exposure, without sunscreen, such as 10 to 15 minutes twice a week should be sufficient for the average person to maintain vitamin D in the body.
 
 

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