Peachy the Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 96

Summer Do’s and Don’ts WRITTEN BY Nancy Palermo Lietz, MD Don’t Put on Sunscreen… At least for the first 20 minutes you are in the sun. Vitamin D deficiency is com- mon with over 80 percent of Americans being deficient. This is a result of our overreaction to the risk of skin cancer with sun exposure. Vitamin D is important for adequate immune function and control of inflammation, neurological and car- diovascular function, bone-building, fighting depression and most importantly, fighting and preventing many kinds of cancer. The body produces Vitamin D with exposure to the sun, and sunscreen blocks this process. UVB rays (not UVA rays which lead to aging and skin cancer) are responsible for stimulating the process of Vitamin D production and only hit the body during the peak hours of the day. Your body can make up to 15,000 IUs of Vitamin D in 20 minutes of exposure, espe- cially when there are large amounts of unprotected bare skin. Once you reach this amount of time, cover up or put on a safe, chemical-free sunscreen for protection. 94 PEACHYTHEMAGAZINE.COM