As naturists we often hear that exposure to the sun is good for us and increases the level of vitamin D in our bodies. That is nice to know but how does it work and why does it matter?
I don’t have a medical diploma and can only report what I have learned through on-line research and thus cannot offer medical advice to anyone. All I can do is advise you to do the research for yourself and speak with your doctor before undertaking diet or lifestyle changes.
However, my readings have pointed out several interesting ideas related to vitamin D that may be of interest to naturists.
Several new studies released in April and May say that there is strong circumstantial evidence of an association between low levels of vitamin D and the severity of COVID-19 responses, including death. (ref 1)
Experts stress, however, a lot more research into this is required as there is still some controversy over the conclusions. In the meantime, they do agree that vitamin D supports good overall health.
Health Canada estimates that up to 50% of Canadians may be deficient in vitamin D levels. (ref 2) Should I take lots of it? No. Although vitamin D supplements are very safe, taking more than the recommended amount every day can be dangerous in the long run. (ref 3 & ref 4)
The recommended amounts can be obtained from diet, supplements or sunlight on skin: naturists take note! Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin by UVB from sunlight, the same UVB that is of most concern for sunburn and skin cancer issues.
So do we take supplements or go out in the sun? In the winter, supplements are likely necessary but in the summer, naturists know that sunshine is better, more efficient and more fun.
There are smartphone or tablet apps available to help. One I have tried is called ‘dminder’ on both IoS and Android that creates a personal profile (age, weight etc,) and combines it with many other parameters to do a running calculation of your vitamin D intake towards your daily targets.
Remember that I am not a medical professional so do your own research and talk with your doctor to get up to date on the latest thinking and recommendations.
To get you started, here are some research references, including a link to a more complete summary of what I have found so far. (ref 5)
References
- Grant, W.B.; et al Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths. Nutrients 2020, 12, 988.
- Vitamin D and Calcium: Updated Dietary Reference Intakes
- Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
- Coronavirus: Should I start taking vitamin D?
- Vitamin D and COVID-19: The Bare Facts (the complete article)