Did you know that during 30 minutes of exposure to the sun, the skin produces as much vitamin D as can be found in 200 glasses of milk? But that is by no means all. Did you know that we are in a better mood during sunny days? The sun's rays raise the level of serotonin - the hormone responsible for good mood. They are also responsible for the synthesis of vitamin D, which protects us, among other things, from bone softening and osteoporosis, writes Cosmopolitan.
Our body creates vitamin D when it senses ultraviolet sunlight on the skin. Doctors recommend 15 minutes of sun exposure without protection, but the exact amount of sun needed is also determined by the altitude we are at, the season (amount of UV radiation), skin pigmentation, and even the type of protective clothing we wear. We get about 90 percent of the 'sun vitamin' this way.
Vitamin D helps strengthen bones and muscles and its deficiency can lead to health problems. Some of the symptoms of chronic vitamin D deficiency are: muscle weakness, low pain threshold, depression and sudden mood swings, fluctuating blood pressure, fatigue, lethargy and sleepiness, as well as reduced endurance.
Of course, the Sun is not the only source of vitamin D, but it is one of the most important. The level of vitamin D can be improved by diet. Foods rich in vitamin D include various types of fish, such as salmon, trout, eggs, mackerel, tuna, carrots or herring.
Vitamin D is directly related to bone growth and development. In children, adequate intake of this vitamin is especially important.
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