Most people in the northern hemisphere are deficient of vitamin D during the winter. In fact, some studies suggest that a whopping 80% of Canadians have the deficiency during the winter months. That's too bad because without vitamin D, bones can become brittle and many other health issues could arise. Yet, it is comparatively difficult to get the proper dose of this vitamin since very few foods naturally contain it. The best way to get the proper amount is by exposure to the sun, but that is not possible in the winter. Then what can people do to get enough? Some ideas may include taking vitamin supplements or using UVB tanning beds.
The daily recommended dose of vitamin D for adults is 2000 to 4000 IU per day. This can easily be achieved through supplements that could be purchased at a pharmacy or a health food store. All you would need to do is read the label before you buy to see if it provides the necessary dosage amount.
Tanning sessions via UVB tanning beds is also a great way to get the recommended dose of vitamin D. However, if you use this method, you need to be careful of what kind of bulbs the bed uses. Like I said, the bulbs need to be UVB bulbs. If the tanning salon uses beds with UVA bulbs, those bulbs would produce no vitamin D at all. Experts say that three 10-minute sessions per week in a UVB tanning bed would provide you with enough vitamin D.
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