For decades now doctors have been telling us that we should stay out of the sun.  And if we (gasp) had to spend time outside, we should cover ourselves in the highest SPF sunscreen possible.

Well, it seems that they may be realizing now that they were wrong!

It seems that a recent study reported in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology found that “asthmatic children with relatively low vitamin D levels in their blood may have a greater risk of suffering severe asthma attacks than those with higher levels of the vitamin.”  (source)

While some fatty fish, such as salmon, provide vitamin D naturally, the primary natural source of vitamin D in your body is sunlight.  That’s right, the same sun that the doctors warned you to stay away from.

What’s worse is that it would almost seem that this must have been known before.  At least there must have been knowledge that keeping people out of the sun would cause vitamin D deficiency, otherwise why would so many foods, like milk, orange juice and breakfast cereals, be fortified with it?

It isn’t just asthma, either.  A friend of mine was diagnosed with hypertension over a year ago, and the doctor said was caused by vitamin D deficiency.  The doctor actually told her to take supplements and to go out in the sun more.

And the list goes on.  According to that same article, “Vitamin D may be best known for its role in healthy bone development and maintenance, but it is also needed for normal nerve, muscle and immune system function. Some studies have linked low vitamin D levels to a higher risk of type 1 or “insulin-dependent” diabetes in children and, in adults, heart disease and certain cancers.” (source)

I think the lesson here is balance.  Don’t stay out of the sun.  Don’t spend too much time in the sun either, because that has been linked to skin cancer.  Eat as balanced a diet as you can, and stay active.  You’ll be amazed at how much easier and better life is when you find the balance.