Summer is still in full swing, and the months of August and September still promise long-lasting sunshine. At this time of year, many people think they are getting enough vitamin D, but if we spend too much time indoors or face overcast, rainy weeks, we can’t ensure that our bodies are replenished.
Vitamin D – of which there are two types, a more active, more bioavailable D3 and a less bioavailable D2 – is produced by the body from a so-called pre-vitamin, which is produced in the sun. So if you get 15-30 minutes of sunshine a day from March to October, your body will naturally produce enough vitamin D. However, it is important not to sunbath during the hottest hours of the day, between 11 am and 3 pm, as this can increase the risk of skin cancer.
However, many people work such busy schedules or are so busy that they are unable to take advantage of the benefits of natural sunshine. For them, vitamin D supplementation can be important in summer.
Vitamin D has bone strengthener and antiviral effects
Everyone is probably aware that vitamin D helps calcium mineralization into bones and therefore essential for keeping them healthy. However, it is less well-known that it can affect hormone function, blood pressure and help the body defend itself more effectively against viral infections. If we don’t have enough of this important vitamin in our bodies, it can not only compromise the health of our teeth and bones, but can also play a role in obesity, diabetes and sometimes even depression or cancer.
Fish and beef liver are not enough
So in summer, if you spend enough time in the sun, mostly walking or exercising, you’re already doing a lot for your health. However, we can’t effectively replace vitamin D with food, as fish, liver, egg yolks and some dairy products don’t contain enough vitamin D, but it can still be useful.
A simple blood test can help
You can easily check your body’s vitamin D levels with a simple blood test, which will also show whether you have insufficient, sufficient quantity or too much vitamin D and whether you need to supplement or reduce your intake accordingly.