For most people, just a few minutes of sun-basking (without sunscreen) a day in summer is enough to top up your vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is important for:
- Bones and muscles
- Immune health
- Mood
But as many as 1 in 4 Australian adults could be deficient.
Risk of sunburn is a real concern with our strong sun, but it’s important to find a balance between getting some rays to be healthy, while avoiding prolonged exposure with unprotected skin.
It’s best to know what your level is before you start blindly supplementing (too much is an issue too), so speak with your GP if you think you could be low, especially if you work in an office, have regular colds/flus, have an autoimmune condition, low mood, or are at risk of osteoporosis. People with darker skin are also more at risk of a vitamin D deficiency.
If you have been tested for vitamin D, and your GP says it’s ok, ask for a print out. A deficiency is generally seen as levels less than 50, but naturopaths are looking for optimum levels between 110-130, in order to have you feeling your best and as part of preventative health care. It’s also good to have higher levels in summer to get you through the colder months.