Did you know that the sun is good for your bones? How much do you expose yourself? Here's everything you need to know!
It is called the vitamin of the sun due to its close link with the sun's rays. It has many beneficial actions on the body and there are numerous studies that are analyzing its benefits, for example in the treatment of tumors or in improving brain activities. Pending greater certainty in these fields and new discoveries, vitamin D remains an indispensable element for bone health, for its fundamental action of optimizing intestinal absorption of calcium.
A natural way to have adequate levels of vitamin D is nutrition, but 80-90% derives mainly from skin synthesis, under the action of sunlight. Unfortunately, the trend today is to escape more and more from the sun's rays, especially in winter. We spend more and more time indoors (home, office, car) and when we have the opportunity to expose ourselves to the sun we pay particular attention to protecting ourselves with sunscreen. Not only. The ability to synthesize vitamin D is particularly conditioned by the age of the subject, tending to decrease with the passing of the years (production is reduced by 30% with the same exposure to sunlight).
An app to measure sun exposure
Considering these premises, you will understand how easy it is to find yourself in a condition of deficiency. From today, an app developed by a team of bone metabolism experts allows you to measure the level of exposure and understand if it is appropriate to discuss with your doctor to assess the possible need to resort to drug supplementation to preserve bone health. The app "Bone Health" it can be downloaded for free from iTunes and Google Play. In addition to the weekly measurement of solar exposure, it provides insights and videos from the experts.
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How much sun is needed?
Some studies have found that exposure of 15-30 minutes between 10.00 and 15.00, twice a week, on the face / arms / legs, without sunscreen, may be sufficient for an adequate synthesis of vitamin D.
Obviously, sun exposure is influenced by various factors and must be counterbalanced with the harmful effect of ultraviolet rays on the skin, especially at certain latitudes and on certain complexions. In our latitudes, to synthesize the amount of vitamin D needed, you have to expose yourself to sunlight during the summer for 15 minutes a day if you have fair skin, or 30 minutes if you have dark skin. In the winter, skin synthesis is negligible.
