Of all the things that we can do to help our body and bones stay healthy, there is one that is the easiest of all. What is it you wonder? The answer is a daily dose of sunlight.
Why does sunlight matter to our health? The answer to that question lies in vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin.
The connection between calcium, vitamin D and sunlight
Most of us know calcium is important for building strong and healthy bones, but we also need vitamin D for proper calcium absorption, which we derive mostly from sunlight exposure.
To further explain this connection: vitamin D promotes the absorption of dietary calcium from the intestine which in turn plays an important role in regulating calcium delivery to our bones. And that is where sunlight comes in.
However, unlike other essential vitamins, which must be obtained from food, vitamin D can be synthesized in our skin through a reaction triggered by exposure to sunlight. Likewise, the major source of our body’s vitamin D comes from our own production in the skin.
So you can see that there is a deep connection between the nutrients we need for healthy bones, sunlight and the sunshine vitamin.
Tips for all-around bone health
There are many additional ways to maintain better bone health, and those include maintaining a balanced diet rich in vitamin D and calcium (and don’t forget proper hydration). Eating foods high in these nutrients may help prevent osteoporosis later in life and can also help with inflammation.
For better all-around bones health considering adding more of these foods into your diet:
- Vitamin D-fortified milk, yogurt and orange juice
- Egg yolks
- Salmon, tuna and mackerel
Stay active. It’s also essential to keep a little daily movement and light exercise as part of your routine. Bone is living tissue that’s constantly being broken down and rebuilt. When you exercise regularly, bone adapts by building more bone and becoming denser.
We hope that you now have a better understanding of how sunlight can affect your bone health and some ways to take better care of your bones. If you’re concerned about your Vitamin D levels or your bones health, it might be time to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist who can help.
