I pretty much love all things that involve sunshine... let me share why, and a little about the science of sunshine and how it’s therapeutic for our body, mind, & overall health! . Long post, but you deserve to know!!! . Decades ago, people spent the majority of their time outdoors, it was a way of life. Think about how people used to walk to get places, worked outside, socialized & played outdoors, you may remember when or have heard about it... “the good ole days,” right? . Sadly, even before this pandemic, adults and children were/are spending countless hours indoors, more than ever before, in front of electronic devices, phone, tablet, or TV. This can be detrimental for our health. . Lack of sunshine exposure can lead to deficiency in vitamin D which can cause us to feel sad or depressed, lonely, sick, and at risk for numerous health problems. . No one is talking about the EPIDEMIC of vitamin D deficiency and the harms that it’s associated with. Over a billion people worldwide are affected and this is a known risk factor for increased severity of illness, including the current virus going around. . Anyone experiencing weakness, chronic fatigue, depression, trouble sleeping, anxiety, weak or broken bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis), weakened immune system (frequent, recurrent, or severe infections), inflammation, and/or autoimmune conditions should be assessed for vitamin D deficiency. . For reference: * greater than 30 = “normal” * 60-90 = “optimal” . Remember always shoot for optimal... not just normal! . However, some people can have suboptimal levels despite recommended daily sunlight exposure or are unable to be in direct sunlight for other reasons, if that’s you, supplementation is usually recommended, but always consult your medical provider for these specific recommendations. . See link below for my favorite provider-grade vitamin D that is well absorbed and excellent for boosting vitamin D to optimal levels. https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/cjackson1579548247 . Keep in mind, “drinking more milk” is not the solution for a lot of reasons, but in a nutshell, milk can be very inflammatory, especially pasteurized cow’s milk and lacks the ability to actually absorb the vitamin D that’s added to it. The best recipe for strong bones and overall health is= sunshine + weight bearing exercises. . To further compound the vitamin D deficiency situation, most medical providers tell patients to wear sunscreen, at all times, even in the winter months. But that blocks the body’s ability to convert vitamin D by 90-99%, starting at SPF 8. . It’s recommended in most cases to get 15-30 minutes of sunlight exposure before applying sunscreen. These times vary according to skin color, see image above. 👆 . It’s critically important to choose a safe sunscreen as the majority in retail stores contain harmful hormone disrupting chemicals and may not even work for reducing your risks of cancer from sun exposure. In fact, some of the ingredients may increase your risk of cancers. . I’ll share my favorite SAFE sunscreens that don’t stink, rub in good, and actually work without causing extra harm to your body in the links below, as well as my favorite sun/summer necessities! . I can’t say it enough, GO OUTSIDE!!! Enjoy the fresh air, nature and SUNSHINE! It’s so good for you... in more ways than I can explain! .
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