There is no debate that appropriate sun exposure is the best source of Vitamin D, as continually advocated by nutrition experts like Dr. Joseph Mercola. But if you don’t have access to sunlight, you have two practical options left: either you take a prescription vitamin D supplement or you use a tanning bed.
Now, before you try any of the two, here’s the important question: which of them is the better alternative for Vitamin D? Let’s compare the two kinds.
Prescription Supplements: Vitamin D3 and D2
First, you should know that oral Vitamin D supplements are of two types: vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol refers to natural supplements, which contain the same Vitamin D that is produced by your body during sun exposure. Vitamin D2 refers to the synthetic ones, also called ergocalciferol. According to Mercola.com, it was first produced through the process of exposing foods to ultraviolet radiation, which since then has been licensed to drug companies for use in prescription vitamins.
Dr. Mercola notes that almost all the prescription-based supplements available today contain synthetic vitamin D2, which he considers the highly inferior supplement. This is because D2 is slowly converted into a more active form inside the body, as compared to vitamin D3, which is converted 500 percent faster. As such, Dr. Mercola doesn’t advise the use of oral supplements; he believes instead that appropriate levels of vitamin D3 through sun exposure of about 10-15 minutes are crucial for supporting your health.
Safe Tanning Beds as Vitamin D Source
Tanning beds, on the other hand, are especially useful for most of you who are not able to get enough sun exposure during winters or certain parts of the year. Like the sun, which produces UV rays that help your body to produce Vitamin D, a good tanning system has lights that also produce UV rays, which have the same health benefit for your body.
Bear in mind, however, that not all tanning beds are safe. You have to check the quality of tanning bed that you’re going to use because most have electromagnetic fields (EMF) that cause harmful radiation. Dr. Mercola, therefore, advises the use of a safe tanning bed to help your body produce vitamin D naturally. There are safe tanning beds like the Mercola Vitality Home Tanning Bed, which shields yourself from dangerous emissions while helping you get Vitamin D, in addition to other health benefits such as support for your cell and muscle functions.
Tanning Bed: The Better Alternative for Vitamin D
Now that we know the characteristics of the two alternative sources of Vitamin D, it is safe to assume that tanning beds, as long as they are safe, seem to be the better choice. While vitamin D that comes directly from sun exposure remains the best method, a tanning bed can provide a healthier alternative for deriving that much needed Vitamin D than prescription supplements can do.
