According to scientists the majority of Brits should forget trying to take a siesta during the day, they should even forget a bit of sun cream now and then, after a group of seven organisations declared that “little and frequent spells in summer sunshine several times a week can benefit your health.” Professor Rona Mackie, from the British Association of Dermatologists, suggested that: “Total sun protection with high factor sun-cream on all the time is not ideal, in terms of vitamin D levels… Some of the messages about sun exposure have been too negative. UK summer sunshine isn’t desperately strong. We don’t have many days in the year when it is very intense.”
Scientists, including those from the Cancer Research UK and the National Osteoporosis Society, agreed that the occasional does of sun exposure is not altogether unhealthy. In-fact, scientists are now advocating a daily dose of 10-15mins in the UK summer sun. According to the research, a safe balance can easily be struck between acquiring a healthy amount of vitamin D, versus the risk of skin cancer.
Aside from external contributions, such as oily fish, eggs, meat and liver, the majority of vitamin D is produced by a chemical reaction in the skin after its exposure to ultraviolet light. Vitamin D is an essential element in a variety of health factors. One of the most important benefits of vitamin D revolves around calcium absorption and bone strength. Vitamin D is also essential for the immune system and has strong links to the prevention of cancer.
Although the relation between vitamin D and the prevention of cancer is complex, the majority of scientists agree that vitamin D is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Despite the debate scientists have suggested: “We think overall that low levels of vitamin D are unlikely to be major contributors to the chances of developing cancer in the UK population.” Yet a good dose of vitamin D is still an integral part of living a healthy lifestyle.
Get your healthy does of sun.
