How Can You Get Enough Vitamin D From the Sun?
Think you can get all of your vitamin D from the sun? You might not be wrong, but you might not be right, either. Researchers suggest that around 5-30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. twice a week may help you get enough vitamin D from the sun. But, researchers also mention that you’ll need to forgo the sunscreen and make sure that your face, arms, legs and back are exposed.
After a long, cold winter, you might be ready to head outside when the warm weather returns. During these seasons, the sun can radiate more ultraviolet B (UVB) rays—the type of light that supports the production of vitamin D in your skin. So, what might happen when your body maxes out on vitamin D for the season? It can store the extra supply in the body’s fat and liver tissue to use throughout the winter.
During those cold months, you may not be getting vitamin D from the sun while driving in your car or working by the window. Glass and sunscreen can both act as barriers to vitamin D absorption, which means you might want to consider vitamin D supplements. Since you may only be receiving a portion of the recommended intake from the sun, focus on eating more vitamin D-rich foods or take a supplement, especially during the winter.