How Much Vitamin D You Need

The Best Way to Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels

The best way to optimize your vitamin D levels is through appropriate safe sunshine or safe tanning bed exposure.

Under summer sun conditions it is frequently possible to generate about 20,000 units of vitamin D by exposing your skin to the sun. You will not overdose this way, as when you’re exposed to the sun, the UVB rays cause vitamin D to be produced in your skin while the UVA rays in the sunlight will tend to destroy excessive levels of vitamin D circulating in your body . It is somewhat of a natural fail-safe mechanism that prevents overdosing.

However, there are many times when it can be nearly impossible to get enough sun.

In these cases, supplementing with vitamin D is acceptable, but I strongly recommend you monitor your blood levels regularly when taking oral vitamin D supplements to make sure you’re staying within the optimal range.

Also, be sure to choose the right form of vitamin D supplement. The one you want is the natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which is the same vitamin D your body makes when exposed to sunshine.