The most famous association of recent times.
For several years now, that molecule, which many of us only associated with certain benefits related to strong bones and teeth, has invaded the internet: it appears in more than 150 million results.
Vitamin D
Among other reasons, the rise of vitamin D is due to the growing interest of scientists in it. In just the last year, more than 5,200 scientific studies related to the molecule have been published. It turns out that vitamin D is essential for promoting and modulating the absorption and deposition of calcium in bones, but it also has other effects in different areas, such as heart health, the immune system, and preventing certain types of cancer.
You may be wondering why this molecule has become famous... it's because the studies I mentioned in the previous paragraph show that it is involved in the immune system and 2020 showed us that viruses come to test us and one of the things being tested is our body's defense system. Good levels of vitamin D have been linked to having a strong immune system to fight our common enemy, the SAR-COV2, and not developing severe forms of Covid 19.
Its potential actions in this last system are what have been getting the most attention in recent times. Why? Because the latest scientific publications give it an important role in regulating the immune system, which makes its responses much more favorable for defending us against exogenous agents, infections—especially viruses—and also for modulating the inflammatory response that our immune system exerts when we are exposed to these infectious agents.
Vitamin D and the Sun
The skin covers nearly two square meters and weighs around two and a half kilos. It is here that vitamin D is synthesized (we could say "manufactured"), essential for maintaining the body's mineral balance. Its most active form in humans, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), can be synthesized in the skin by exposing it to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
Just 30 minutes of daily exposure in short sleeves and shorts is enough for proper levels of vitamin D, complemented by a diet rich in this element (only 20% or less of all the vitamin D obtained by the body comes from food). It is important to note that UVB rays do not penetrate glass or the barrier produced by sunscreens, so it is ideal to take 15 minutes of sun exposure in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon.
A good time is between 9:30 and 10 in the morning and after 5 pm.
Dr. Maria Lorena Vela - Specialist in Medical Hydrology and Climatotherapy Integrative Medicine
We can conclude that a little sunshine is a source of health and you should take care of your skin as it will take care of you!