Ultraviolet Light, the Natural Vitamin D Source

In school, you probably heard your science teacher talk about Ultraviolet (UV) light. You basically learned that it comes from the sun. And if you have been tanning lately, you know that it is often indicated in the labels of tanning and sunscreen lotions. But wait a second, have you ever really thought about what UV is and what it does? Does it have any effect to your health?

Ultraviolet (UV) Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation. Emitted by the sun, its name means “beyond violet” because it has electromagnetic waves with frequencies higher than those in the light spectrum which are known as the color violet. UV comes with a wavelength that is longer than x-rays but is shorter than that of a visible light.

Types of UV Light

The sun emits several types of UV light but we will only mention three major types here: UVA, also known as long wave or black light at 400 nm to 320 nm; UVB or medium wave at 320 nm to 280 nm; and UVC, also called as short wave or germicidal, at 280 nm to 100 nm.

Both UVA and UVB penetrate the atmosphere but UVA accounts for an estimated 98.7% of all the UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface. Most of the UVC and UVB, meanwhile, are absorbed by the ozone layer.

Vitamin D Effects of UV

Both UVA and UVB are crucial for human health. They help the body produce Vitamin D, a major nutrient that brings a lot of health benefits such as support of your immune system and cardiovascular system. Vitamin D also makes your skin healthy and protects you from certain diseases including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancers of the pancreas, prostrate, lung, ovary, skin, colon, etc. In the US and in many parts of the world, Vitamin D deficiency is becoming prevalent and leads to bone-weakening diseases, among many other illnesses.

While UVB aids your body to produce Vitamin D, the UVA also helps you tan but it especially delivers a protection component – it naturally protects your body from vitamin D overdose, and prevents you from getting sunburned.

Detrimental Effects of UV to One’s Health

Too much UVB exposure can result to sunburn and direct DNA damage. It can also lead to some forms of skin cancer, as well as chronic harmful effects to the eye, skin, and immune system.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, a world-renowned nutrition expert, warns that you should be careful when and how long you would ask your skin in the sun. He advises that 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure, while letting your skin turn the lightest pink, is safe for getting optimal Vitamin D. Going beyond that can lead to serious health complications. However, based on an article on USA Today in 2006, the appropriate duration of UV exposure depends from person to person and would be based on factors such as season, skin color, time of day and location where a person lives in.

But if you don’t have access to enough sunlight, Dr. Mercola recommends that you use a safe tanning bed like his very own Mercola Vitality Home Tanning Bed with UV light, which helps you to control your tan and get all the benefits of Vitamin D in the comforts of your own home.

Get Optimal Vitamin D from UV Light

Now that you know about UV Light and its Vitamin D-producing benefits, isn’t it the best time to get yourself enough sunshine? Just be careful not to stay out in the sun too long or else suffer the harmful effects of UV. The important thing is to keep your UV exposure to moderation so you can maintain your body in good health.

Interested to read more about UV and Vitamin D, just visit cheap-tanning-bed.com for useful information and related articles.

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