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Getting Vitamin D and UVB Light in Houston, Texas
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Houston is a fine place to soak up the sun's Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays all year round. November is a good time to start thinking about keeping our levels of vitamin D high while transitioning into the cooler winter months.
An important benefit of UVB rays and the resultant vitamin D is having strong bones in later life so that falls are not life threatening. The elderly don't absorb vitamin D as efficiently as when they were younger. In addition to bone strength, vitamin D plays a role in muscle strength. If the elderly had more of both strengths, they could have a more independent lifestyle.
Ongoing studies show there may be serious consequences of not getting enough of this important vitamin. Certain cancers, depression, diabetes, psoriasis, hypertension and a host of other ailments not commonly thought of as being connected to vitamin D are being discovered.
What are some signs that there may be a deficiency? Possible clues may be dental caries, trouble sleeping, recurring skin problems and respiratory infections.
To prevent a deficiency, get 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight without sunscreen on the face and hands between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. The most important thing is not to burn or even get a little pink. Use sunscreen for the remainder of the day when you are exposed to sunlight.
Supplements or food containing vitamin D will be needed by people who choose to totally block the sun from their skin by using sunscreens. The best sunscreens are the ones containing Helioplex or Mexoryl SX. Those ingredients protect against UVA light and UVB light .UVB light triggers production of vitamin D and it is implicated in skin cancer. But UVA poses a bigger threat in getting skin cancer so it is important to guard against both types of rays. It is up to the individual to decide what their skin can tolerate, whether it's a small amount of unprotected sunlight or to use a sunscreen full time.
It is so tempting to just take a supplement. But too much vitamin D is toxic. The level being reported now as being optimal is 1,000 IU daily. The best way to protect your health, build your immune system while protecting and improving your skin is to have your vitamin D level checked with a blood test. Talk to your doctor.
Besides supplements, certain foods contain vitamin D. Canned pink salmon has 530 IU of vitamin D per 3 ounces. One large egg yolk has 21 IU; and 8 ounces of fortified milk has 98 IU while soy milk has 100 IU. Finally, there is Cod Liver Oil that delivers 1,300 IU per one tablespoon. Seems Mother was right.
To help with food costs, coupons for vitamins usually can be found in the Sunday edition of the Houston Chronicle newspaper. Take those coupons and couple them with sales at your favorite grocer or drugstore. A typical cost for a bottle of 90 liquid softgels containing 2,000 IU of vitamin D from Nature Made Vitamins cost $13.49, not including coupons.
Many vitamin companies also have reward incentives for buying their brand. Nature Made offers a $5.00 coupon after accumulating 500 points.
Certainly vitamin D has a vital place in the fountain of youth.
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