We need to spend more time in the sun

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BOSTON -- Life on our planet requires sunlight to survive. And most organisms work hard to get it. Jungle reptiles often compete with each other to find the highest, warmest surfaces for sunbathing. Rain-forest plants race to fill rare, sunny openings in the thick canopy left by fallen trees. And some flowers even bend their stems to follow the sun's movement across the sky.Humans also need sensible sun exposure. But unlike the rest of life on earth, we actively work to avoid the sun.In recent years, several dubious groups have launched smear campaigns against the sun, blurring the line between overexposure -- a very real threat to our health -- and any exposure at all. The sunscreen industry constantly warns the public to "cover up" before venturing outside. Store shelves are flooded with products promising increasingly higher sun-protecting factors (SPF). And the latest children's swim trunks cover more skin than a nun's habit.This frantic obscuration has hurt us in an unexpected area: nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 180 million Americans -- 60 percent of the population -- are not getting enough Vitamin D. Though certain foods contain trace amounts, it's virtually impossible to get enough vitamin D through diet alone. The National Institute of Health lists sunlight as "the most important source of vitamin D." Our bodies produce the aptly named "sunshine vitamin" when ultraviolet (UV) rays reach our skin. To produce the amount that most experts now agree is the minimum daily requirement (about 1,000 to 2,000 international units), one would need to expose 25 percent of one's body for around 10 minutes at least two to three times a week during spring, summer and early fall.We don't even come close.Geography, weather, pollution and sunscreen limit the amount of UV available. Even factors as simple as the season play a role. For instance, during this time of year, sunlight is a scarce commodity, especially for Americans in the northern states.Without Vitamin D, our bodies cannot build strong bones or maintain a healthy immune system. New research indicates that the sunshine vitamin plays a vital role in the prevention of many deadly illnesses, including multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, schizophrenia and heart disease. Health officials estimate that as many as 47,000 cancer deaths could be prevented each year in America if adequate vitamin D levels were attained. But sun-scare messengers and health "experts" irresponsibly urge us to wear lotions and cosmetics with added SPF, which can block up to 100 percent of our vitamin D production. Vitamin D deficiency is contributing to hundreds of thousands of cases of chronic and terminal diseases. That means that the sunlight myths perpetuated by the skin-care industry aren't only misleading. They're deadly.We need sunlight as we need water, food and a roof over our heads. It would be false prudence to completely avoid the sun to prevent skin cancer. Yes, too much UV light is unhealthy. However, too much of any good thing can be bad for your health. And too much UV avoidance can be downright dangerous.When it comes to sunlight, the old adage holds true: Everything in moderation.Michael Holick, M.D., is the director of the vitamin D, skin, and bone research laboratory at Boston University Medical Center. He authored "The UV Advantage." For more stories visit scrippsnews.com

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vitmain D

Thank God for people like Michael Holick. It looks like lack of vitmain D might account for many of the "diseases of civilization"--like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Why aren't more fedral agencies looking into the benefits of high dose vitamin D?

Good article.

Good article.

geeks

i dont know what you are going on about that where you say that they are freaks coz vitamin d is ace we love vitamin d

we love vitamin d

lets go vitamin d woop woop

replyin to geeks

geeks needs help! no one should be that obsessed with vitamin D
its not healthy!!

geeks needs help! no one

geeks needs help! no one should be that obsessed with vitamin D
its not healthy!!

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geeks

no it aint luv because i love vitamin d

tis gay

tis gay

Go to the soliarum and when

Go to the soliarum and when you won't need the sun

vitzzz geeky

noooooooooooooooo
vitmin d is marrid 2 vitamin c

u wernt invited 2 der wedin i woz

hahahhahha

vitamin d

actually i belive they got divorced in 1682 i was there while my friend melon was eating turd

Nah dun wury it gun b k they

Nah dun wury it gun b k they renewedd therrr vowelzz D=

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geeks

ooohhhhhhhhhhhhh yes jst think how gud vitamin d is i really do love it it is part of my life vitamin d is

your a fag

your a fag

Vitamin D

There's no doubt that Vitamin D is good for you, however, with Global warming and all, you can't blame anyone for trying to avoid the sun. Because of the thinning ozone layer, the question remains: How many minutes under the sun should we spend in order to get Vitamin D and avoid UV?

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

Nice to see someone who's not dumb commenting on this article

I agree. The writer of this article isn't very informative he just seems angry that people are starting to want to stay out of the sun. While I do not demonize Vitamin D, I agree with Natalie that he should give information about how long it takes to get it. I haven't done research on it in awhile but I believe it takes 15 minutes to get your daily requirement.

Also, the fact that reptiles like to stay in the sun has no relation to what humans should do to be healthy. They have to stay warm to stay active, humans are warm-blooded mammals and do not have that problem. Just because plants like the sun doesn't mean humans should bask in it.

Besides, despite some of the negative wrap the sun has gotten, people are not avoiding it. I see plenty of people out in the sun tanning intentionally.

Thank you for your site.

We wont live without vit d.A

We wont live without vit d.A lot of time staying under the sun is good,but not too much when it comes to other countries like Philippines.

Beauty

For health,the sunn light is

For health,the sunn light is indispensable.converter ts

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Regards

The sun is my mother (: And

The sun is my mother (: And my friends mother, so really, she's not my friend. She's my sun sister ;)

For health,the sunn light is

For health,the sunn light is indispensable.I agree it!BlackBerry Video Converter,MTS Converter for Mac,MOD Converter for Mac

init bluds

Init bluds I luv vitamin D as much as I luv men irl

Thank God for people like

Thank God for people like Michael Holick.
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