There’s a lot of conflicting advice when it comes to the sun. Even our chief medical officer recently recommended using eight teaspoons of sunscreen – who knows what that is? E secially when most of us use sprays! It’s a wonderful example of entirely correct medical advice that’s entirely useless. The truth is that the sun is good for you, both for the soul and the body – but in moderation. No sun all year and then a week frying yourself is dangerous, but a bit of gentle sunshine morning and late afternoon is fine.
YOU NEED VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is probably the most common deficiency we see in this country, and sun on the skin is the easiest way of getting it. It’s important for bone health, and is linked to improved blood pressure, and a lower risk of heart disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). It impacts lots of functions in the body, including mood. I’m dangerously low in vitamin D myself, and while I haven’t had much sun, I’m not actively avoiding it. It’s difficult to get all your vitamin D from foods like egg yolks, fatty fish and liver, so veggies and vegans can really struggle. Sunlight trumps supplements because taking the wrong dose can do you more harm than good, potentially causing a condition called hypercalcemia. I’d recommend a good diet and 10-15 minutes of sunshine on your arms and legs a day, but less if you burn easily. Never let your skin go red.