Hi ,
I’m Rebecca, your HealthPost naturopath. Did you know we get up to 90% of our vitamin D from sunlight?
Vitamin D’s immune and mood benefits become important during the cooler months, when we naturally get less sunlight.
During lower-sun months, scientists agree it can be difficult to get enough vitamin D from food alone - even from oily fish, egg yolks and beef liver. And here in New Zealand, studies suggest around 30% of us have sub-optimal vitamin D levels.
Could vitamin D be worth considering?
During lower sun months (May–October), when deficiencies are more likely in New Zealand, a vitamin D is definitely worth considering.
It’s also worth keeping close by if you...
- Spend lots of time indoors
- Are over 50 (we make less active vitamin D as we age)
- Have darker skin tone, as you’ll need longer in the sun to make vitamin D
- Have a breastfed baby (breastmilk contains only small amounts of vitamin D)
- Live in New Zealand's South Island, as UV levels are lower further from the equator
How much sunlight do I need?
It’ll vary a lot based on the factors above, but in general, around 6 minutes in mid-summer and up to 97 minutes in mid-winter.
What does vitamin D do in the body?
- Immune defences during cooler weather
- Mood support during lower-sun months
- Bone health – from babies to menopause
Which vitamin D is best for me?
Here are my top vitamin D picks for every age and stage
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