Vitamin D is essential for bone health. Recent research suggests it may have other benefits, too, such as protecting against colds and fighting depression. The good news is that most people get enough vitamin D, according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM). However, if you don't spend enough time in the sun or if your body has trouble absorbing the vitamin, you may not get enough. Here are 12 ways to ensure adequate intake. We’re basically your best friend… with better taste.UV light in the wintertime Winter is here in the northern hemisphere. Until the winter solstice (December 21st), every day will have less sunlight and more darkness than the day before. In the winter, at many latitudes, all the UV that is present is UVA wavelength, not UVB. Remember, UVB are the rays responsible for your body making vitamin D. So in the winter, it’s impossible to make much vitamin D if you’re living north of about 35 degrees latitude (and still not much between 30 and 35).
Despite this shortcoming in wintertime sun exposure, evidence has been presented that UV light does more than just make vitamin D. For example, it was UV light in general, and not 25(OH)D levels, that improved quality of life indicators in a recent study. Phototherapy improves quality of life, says new study. Posted on August 19, 2013 by John Cannell, MD. Last year Brant Cebulla wrote a good blog summing up what good UV light does outside of vitamin D production. Sun exposure: Benefits beyond D production. Posted on August 1, 2012 by Brant Cebulla. So I still seek sun exposure in the wintertime, even without the UVB. While I continue to get UVA in the winter from sunshine, I keep a UVB light in my office for the winter as I think both moderate amounts of UVA and UVB light are important for health. One option is to go to sun tanning parlors and ask for old-fashioned low-pressure UV sunbed. They approximate the wavelengths in sunlight. However, if readers want a device for their own home and want to buy a UV light with UVB for home use (one that allows you to make vitamin D), you have several choices.
One choice is Dr. Mercola’s D-Lite UVB sun lamps: D-Lite stand up system Another much less expensive system is Sperti’s FDA approved vitamin D lamp: Vitamin D Lamp, model D/UV-F The Vitamin D Council approves both manufacturers. However, UVB lights can burn the skin so be careful to follow the manufacturers’ recommendations. Ships from and sold by AlaskaNorthernLights. The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problems FREE Shipping on orders over . The D/UV-F lamp is a fluorescent lamp intended for individuals who may not be able to receive either needed sunlight exposures, tolerate or process Vitamin D supplements. It is not intended to substitute for a rich Vitamin D diet. 22 x 6 x 12 inches ; Shipping Weight: 17 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) #114,898 in Beauty (See Top 100 in Beauty) in Home Improvement > Lamps & Light Fixtures > Lamps & Shades > Table Lamps 5 star72%4 star14%3 star8%2 star6%See all verified purchase reviewsTop Customer ReviewsIT WORKS!
A similar product didn't seem as good so I ordered my Sperti all the way from ...Maybe I just have high expectations. :(and I have been steadily feeling better since I began using itIt Works!Helped Me Feel Better Quickly!excellent companybut has been working for us great through two WintersThe numbers correspond to the order fouhd, now how good they are Plastic contact lenses will pass UVB unless you have paid for UV blocking feature Without UV blocking contacts you must wear glasses/ski goggles/whatever if you might look at the bulb - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Claims that their UVB lamps puts out very little UVA (i.e. not good for tanning, should be great for production of Vitamin D) Made in US ( in business for over a decade), ships internationally (your choice: 110V vs 220V) Suggests starting with just 2 minutes per use (day?), and building up to 5 minutes per use Optional extras include : timer, glasses to stop UVB (recall that virtually all glass, both window and eye, block UVB)
2 bulb lamp, wall mount, 21" long, 10" wide $194 1 bulb lamp, wall mount 21" long, 1" wide $134 normal ballast This appears to be the lowest cost source of indoor UVB - 1 or 2 bulb models vs more expensive Sperti 4 bulb model, which includes timer, glasses, etc Suspect that can have more than a single session per day - but each might be shorter Spectra of G15T8E (added July 2014) 3 pages of instructions include the following There is a very very slight ozone smell when it is on. Subset of the Table of session duration and frequency for single UVB bulb Tried to measure how much UVB it has - without success.It appears that they all measured/ or were calibrated on UVA from the sun and assumed that UVB would be proportional This bulb does not have the natural UVA/UVB ratio, so the measurements do not apply Have ordered for an additional UVB bulb - compact fluorescent Have ordered for a Vitamin D Meter: model 6.4 - which measures just UVB and converts it into IU per minute.
Will use the meter to test all 4 sources of UVB which I have purchased. Mounted UVB fixture to the right of the bathroom cabinet I find myself brushing & flossing teeth as well as shaving more often than in the past (getting vitamin D while doing it) No tan expected, as the lamp has very little UVA Investigating reflector to increase the intensity of UVB which I get. Note: Cannot use a mirror to increase intensity as the glass in the mirror absorbs UVB Used a piece of furnace duct as a reflector - which increased the intensity about 3X. Guess that light intensity increased 3X with reflector 1000 IU @ 2 feet 5 minutes using Solar Meter converter Parameter 3 Skin type 2 Parameter 4 Skin exposed 50% Parameter 5 SPF 0% Parameter 6 Facultative tan 0% Parameter 7 Age: 66 Their Excel converter Spreadsheet is attached at the bottom of this page More research is needed to see if any of the following might change the estimate
I have no intention of making this kind of reflector. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Sperti Vitamin D appliance is the ONLY medical device (OTC) recognized by the FDA and has been used in clinical research. This UV lamp was designed for either home or facility use, and it's size and power is just right for 5 minute sessions {3 times per week}. Easy to use, so whether its just for your home, or for supervised facility use - the 1 to 5 minute timed dial with auto turn-off makes it easy to use, + a good safety feature. Increase your vitamin d levels naturally with UV light. 1000 hour bulb life average for these Vitamin D bulbs, & easily replaced when the time comes. Replacement bulbs are only $79 for a full set, and are easy to install. {amortized cost of bulbs: 8 cents per hours} CLICK HERE for details Their claim that the lamp would generate Vitamin D was recognized by the AMA and the organization that proceeded FDA around 1941.