Inflatable Kayak Blog

Kayaking is an outdoor sport, so we all should be thinking about using sunscreen, wearing hats and trying overall not to get too much sun. We know the negative effects … too much sun can cause skin cancer. But there is another side to the story … sunshine is probably our bodies best source of vitamin D.

In order for our bodies to stay healthy and operate correctly, we need vitamins. We get these vitamins mostly from the food and drink we ingest. Vitamin D can come from various types of fish, including salmon, as well as from fortified milk. It also is absorbed into the body from the sun, a truly unique method of vitamin nourishment. In fact, the chemical reaction which allows the skin to absorb vitamin D from the sun’s rays, has a built in shut down system that keeps the body from overdosing on the vitamin. That’s something that doesn’t occur when eating a vitamin. The best part of all is that recent studies show that Vitamin D may prevent and even fight the development of cancer.

This is where it gets a little confusing. You want to get the best form of vitamin D from the sun, yet you don’t want to get too much sun and get skin cancer. Sunscreen blocks the body from converting the sun’s vitamin D.

Here are some recommendations for compromise that I read recently …
·    Most studies show that people are not getting enough vitamin D. Researchers recommend 1000 IU (international units), which is higher than the current government’s recommend 200 to 400 IU. This may change in the near future.

·    There is a way to get a good supply of vitamin D from the sun as well as supplements. A researcher recommends you check out how long it takes for your skin to become red or react to the sun and then spend one quarter of that time in the sun without sunscreen, (except for your face). An estimate would be about 10 to 15 minutes in the midday sun exposing at least 50 percent of your body. When that time is up, then put on the sunscreen as recommended.

So with a little caution, we can get the best of both sources of vitamin D. You can read a more detailed article about the Health Benefits of Vitamin D from the Sun at PaddleTheWorld.com.