It's Time for Fun in the Sun!
It’s time to start thinking about our fun-in-the-sun summer. For those of you who know me personally, you know I avoid the sun like the plague; extremely fair skin and green eyes have guaranteed me a life time of sunburn potential. I can burn with SPF 45 in as little as 30 minutes. Yes, it’s true. That said, I prefer to stay indoors anyhow (at least that’s what I have been telling myself for the last 20 or so years).
Now there is all this talk of Vitamin D deficiency and how, from years of sun avoidance, we are at risk for all kinds of health issues including osteoporosis. Of course the most effective way to get Vitamin D is through sun exposure. I think this goes back to balance and moderation.
For my health, I am making a commitment to try to get 15 minutes of sun daily from now on. Research suggests that adequate Vitamin D intake has been linked with lower incidences of cancers and lower rates of immune-related conditions, such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. So for the next few months, my new habit will be to get some sun. Perhaps you might want to try too. Neither a bad habit, nor a difficult one; just remember balance and moderation and the following tips as well.
- Avoid direct sun exposure as much as possible during peak UV radiation hours between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- Select cosmetic products and contact lenses that offer UV protection
- Wear sunglasses with total UV protection
- Wear wide-brimmed hats, long sleeved shirts and pants if you will be outdoors for prolonged periods
- Eighty percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is acquired before age 18. As a parent, be a good role model and foster healthy habits in your child
- Avoid tanning beds
 Be safe and let’s start enjoying the sun again!
