Sunlight contains vitamin D which plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body, especially bones. More precisely, sun exposure is needed by the body to form vitamin D naturally.
When the skin is exposed to direct sunlight, the body will produce vitamin D by burning cholesterol in skin cells. This is why, exposure to the right amount of sunlight is considered very important to maintain vitamin D levels in the body.
Apart from sunlight, you can also get vitamin D from certain foods, such as fish, eggs, and milk and dairy products (cheese and yogurt). Vitamin D can also be obtained from vitamin D supplements and fish oil.
Seeing the Benefits of Sunlight
Sufficient sunlight can stimulate the natural production of vitamin D in the body. This fat-soluble vitamin contained in sunlight has many functions, including:
- Helps absorption of calcium and phosphorus
- Helps the growth and development of bones and teeth
- Maintain muscle health
- Improve mood and prevent depression
- Maintain heart health
- Make the immune system work normally
Disease List adue to Vitamin D deficiency
Sunlight contains vitamins needed by the body. If there is a lack of sunlight, the body will have difficulty producing vitamin D. As a result, various health problems will approach.
Some diseases that can arise due to vitamin D deficiency are:
1. Arthritis (arthritis)
According to research, vitamin D deficiency is common among sufferers arthritis or arthritis. One of the risk factors for developing this disease is the long-term use of corticosteroids. OThis drug can reduce the levels of vitamin D and calcium in the body, thus making bones and joints weak.
2. Bone disease
Vitamin D is useful for helping the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body. These two minerals play an important role in maintaining the health and strength of your bones. If the intake of vitamin D is not met, the following bone diseases can happen to you:
- Osteoporosis, which is reduced or lost bone density and strength. This disease makes bones weak, thin, painful or sore, and prone to fracture.
- Osteomalacia, which is a condition in which the bones become soft. This disease can cause pain in the lower back, pelvis, hips, legs, and ribs. The pain can be severe after activity or at night.
3. Respiratory disorders
Vitamin D plays an important role in keeping the immune system strong against viruses and bacteria that cause disease and infection. If the body lacks vitamin D, you can be susceptible to infectious diseases that attack the respiratory tract, such as flu and pneumonia.
4. Heart disease
Several medical studies so far have shown that people who are deficient in vitamin D are more prone to heart disease and hypertension. This is thought to be because low levels of vitamin D in the body can make a person more susceptible to inflammation that can damage blood vessels.
In addition, a lack of vitamin D can also increase levels of renin, a substance that plays a role in raising blood pressure.
Because sunlight plays an important role in providing vitamin D, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that your skin be exposed to sunlight for about 5-15 minutes for 2-3 times a week. However, it is not recommended to sunbathe at 10:00 to 16:00, because the skin will be more prone to burning.
Come on, take care of bone health from now on. Start by basking in the sun that contains vitamins in the morning, and eating foods high in vitamin D.
You are also recommended to have a bone density test if you have decreased height, have experienced a fracture, are using corticosteroid drugs in the long term, have hormonal disorders, and have received organ or spinal cord transplants.
To find out if your body is getting enough vitamin D, don't hesitate to consult a nutritionist.