D3 – the sun vitamin

Vitamin D3, often known simply as “vitamin D,” plays a key role in our health and is involved in many of the body’s processes. Vitamin D3 contributes to the preservation of normal bones and teeth, and well as to normal immune function.

Strictly speaking, however, it is inaccurate to speak of a vitamin. Rather, D3 is a hormone which, unlike “true” vitamins, can be produced by the body if it receives adequate sunlight. To this end, the body needs about 15 minutes of sunlight per day, ideally at an angle of +35°.

Unfortunately, the body often cannot produce enough vitamin D3 in normal everyday circumstances (the German Society for Nutrition suggests an optimal daily dose of approximately 20 µg), since many people spend much of the time of optimal sun exposure (during the summer from around noon to 3:00 p.m.) at work. During the winter, the sun frequently does not appear at the ideal angle.

Thus, the question on all of our minds is how we can provide our body with enough vitamin D3 to meet its daily needs?

The answer: by daily sunlight exposure, paired with a selection of foods rich in vitamin D such as herring, salmon, or mackerel.