Being outside in the sunlight does prompt the body to produce Vitamin D but that doesn’t mean you should use it as an excuse to spray your body with baby oil instead of SPF. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Which helps protect the body from osteoporosis.
So how much sunlight do you need to reap the benefits? The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is 0.01mg for both men and women and that means you should aim for short periods of exposure over the course of the day. If you have sensitive skin like me (meaning going without sunscreen equals sunburn) you can also get vitamin D through your diet. Food like eggs, milk, butter, fatty fish and fish oil are all great examples.
Most people (vampires not included) do not need to take a vitamin D supplement.
Excess vitamin D is stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body, so overdosing on supplements can cause these stores to become toxic and lead to the side effects like diarrhea and nausea. Yuck!
It is essential that you get enough because a deficiency can leave you with long term health problems and bones that are easily damaged.
