Question: Benefits of Vitamin D
October 26, 2009 by Bob Livingston
Dear Bob,
I hear about the benefits of Vitamin D all the time , however no one ever seems to say how many hours of sunlight are required to get the right amount of Vitamin D nor do they say how much Vitamin C one must take as a supplement or drink as a juice on a daily basis… can you please tell me?
Thank you!
A: Writing in his book, The Vitamin D Cure, James E. Dowd, M.D., says there is no one-size-fits-all amount of sun exposure required to maintain adequate levels of Vitamin D without supplementation. The amount varies by age, size, skin type and latitude. He says that today’s urbanized lifestyle prohibits most people from getting the proper amount of sunshine, and long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats and sunscreen with a SPF of as low as eight would prevent a person from getting the proper amount of sunshine. His book contains a chart that can help you determine how much you would need. There is also a sunshine calculator available online at http://www.thevitamindcure.com/calculator/. He does write that those who regularly use tanning beds usually have adequate levels of Vitamin D in their systems.
In regard to Vitamin C, it has been generally established that 2,000 mg per day of Vitamin C is the proper dose for healthy adults, according to Michael Cutler, M.D.
Best Wishes,
Bob
