The
right amount of sunshine is essential to life. We are so lucky with
Balmoral Beach and some lovely harbour walks on our doorstep.
Sunshine affects our moods and our lifestyles . But did you know that
sunshine provides a nutrient that is essential for your immune
health?
Your
immune system is responsible for keeping you healthy and protecting
you from the millions of bacteria, viruses and toxins that threaten
your health. Like the rest of your body, your immune system relies on
you eating the right sorts of foods and living a healthy lifestyle to
stay healthy. It's coming up winter now so it is a good time to
consider your immune system.
The
most basic way for you to get your Vitamin D is through sunshine.
When your skin is exposed to direct sunlight, your body is stimulated
to produce Vitamin D. This Vitamin D is then used within your body
for various important functions, one of the main ones being to keep
your immune function balanced. It is surprising to learn that even in
sun-rich countries, such as Australia or New Zealand, Vitamin D
deficiency is common, increasing the risk of autoimmune conditions.
It is believed that this problem has come about due to the success of
sun protection programs, which have effectively reduced the incidence
of skin cancer in younger populations.
It
is a fallacy that Australians get sufficient Vitamin D from casual
sun exposure; up to 30% of Australians are Vitamin D deficient.
In
order to produce enough Vitamin D, a person with light coloured skin
would need to have their arms and legs exposed to full sunlight for
20 minutes every day (avoiding the hottest part of the day). A
daily walk along the foreshore would just about cover this.
The
use of sunscreens will block this production of Vitamin D and the
exposure needs to be direct; that is not through glass. The elderly,
people with dark skin and veiled people are at particularly high risk
of deficiency. Finding the right balance of sunlight exposure for
optimal skin and immune health can be more difficult than it first
sounds.
It
is possible to stay “Sun Smart” and have immune health too.
Vitamin D is present in a variety of foods including cod liver oil,
herring, egg yolk and milk. It is also possible to obtain Vitamin D
in the form of a supplement, but it is important that you use a
supplement with a dose that is right for you and your state of
health.
If
you have concerns about your immune health or want help managing an
autoimmune condition, please make an appointment with your health
care professional to plan a course of action that is best for you.
So
enjoy what Mosman has to offer us to keep our vitamins up.
