Search
Close
Sun is a vital ingredient in a healthy lifestyle. We need the sun to produce a range a essential vitamins and minerals in our body. But how much sun is too much sun...?
As the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”; the same can also be said of the sun…: “a little bit of sun a day keeps the rickets away”. Vitamin D is important to our body in many ways, including preventing rickets (soft, brittle bones) in children.
One way we get vitamin D is from the sun. Our body makes vitamin D when skin is directly exposed to the sun and most people can get some of their vitamin D needs this way. No one knows for sure how much time we need in the sun for our skin to make enough vitamin D but we do know for sure that too much sun can cause skin cancer.
The following tips will help you get enough sun to make vitamin D without increasing your risk of skin cancer:
Nothing beats a lunchtime walk in the park to get your daily sun, but don't forget anything longer than 10 - 15 minutes you will begin to burn in New Zealand's harsh UV light.