Glowing skin is the object of envy from every sunbathing beauty and what better what to get glowing skin then naturally, via vitamin D. Typically, sun exposure is a great source of vitamin D, but basking in the sun can lead to UV exposure, and those potentially harmful rays may age and damage skin. So what’s the next best thing? Supplementing with vitamin D.
Marie Claire recently interviewed Sarfraz Zaidi, M.D., endocrinologist and author of "Power of Vitamin D", in its June issue featuring a summer guide to healthy skin—“Your Ultimate Summer Skin Guide—Vitamin D-Day.” Zaidi recommends over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin D3 pills as a supplement versus a day in the sun. According Zaidi, sun block will actually prevent 95 percent of the vitamin D synthesis in skin, and he says spending 15 minutes in the sun a day for a sufficient supply of vitamin D is a myth. “
But vitamin D isn’t just good for skin. It’s been linked to cancer, diabetes, depression and immune health. Zaidi said: “In the past decade, we’ve discovered vitamin D does more than just help with calcium absorption and healthy bone maintenance; it helps with the natural turnover of cells. Vitamin D deficiencies slow down cell death, so damaged cells linger and can mutate into tumor and cancer.”