The Sunshine Vitamin

Do you know how important sunshine is to your brain health?

Because when you spend enough time in the sun, an amazing chemical reaction gets triggered that increases your body's levels of vitamin D. That's why I love spending time outdoors and at the beach, soaking up some much-needed rays. 

Two things to remember when soaking in the sun:  

 #1- Drink plenty of water throughout the day so you don't end up getting dehydrated under the sun. 

• A good rule of thumb that you’re drinking enough water is if you’re urinating every 2-3 hours, and your urine is clear

#2- Make sure you use a nice natural sunscreen if you tend to burn easily

• Choose non-nano particle zinc oxide as the active ingredient
• Avoid sunscreens with chemicals, parabens, and other toxic compounds

It's a good idea to get at least 10-15 minutes of sun exposure first, before applying your sunscreen, so the glowing rays from the sun can trigger the chemical reactions needed to boost your vitamin D levels.

This is a wonderful way to take care of your brain and your body and have a great time doing it. 

How to check for adequate levels of vitamin D?

I recommend running a blood test called the 25-OH Vitamin D test. This simple test checks the levels of vitamin D that are stored in your blood and is one of the most important tests to check periodically to see if you have adequate levels of vitamin D. 

The reference range for most labs is 30-100 ng/mL, but I shoot for 50-80 ng/mL for myself and my patients. 

If you’re not getting enough Vitamin D

If you don't get enough vitamin D, and you're not able to get enough direct sunlight, or the stress of your modern-day work life keeps you from getting outdoors, the next best option would be to supplement with vitamin D. 

If you do decide to supplement, make sure that the supplement you choose also contains vitamin K1 and K2, as all three vitamins work synergistically to create optimal brain, bone and body health. 

I personally take vitamin D in a liposomal delivery form, since it optimizes absorption and bioavailability intracellularly. 

 Check out my video where I talk more about the Sunshine Vitamin here:

To Your Total Health, 

Dr. Titus Chiu