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Natural light has numerous benefits and one of these is by promoting the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is one of the many vitamins that your body regularly needs because it is an essential ingredient in the formation of healthy bones. Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D allows absorption of calcium which is why vitamin D deficiency is known to cause rickets, a bone problem due to lack of calcium in the bones. Aside from strengthening bones and teeth, vitamin D also helps fortify one’s immunity to diseases. Recently, it has also been linked to colon and prostate cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease.

Although vitamin D can be obtained from food and supplements, the major source of the vitamin in the body is still produced by the skin. As your skin is exposed to sunlight, your body produces vitamin D. In short, the more sunlight or ultraviolet rays hit the skin, the more vitamin D it produces.

This is the reason why limited exposure to sunlight is associated with vitamin D. People who live in areas that get little sunlight or wear long body coverings (either for work or religious reasons) are at risk for vitamin D deficiency.

While commercially-produced Vitamin D and calcium supplements provide an alternative solution to both the excess and the lack of naturally-occurring Vitamin D, these supplements do come with a catch – overdose. You see, when too much calcium circulates in the blood, they can be deposited in the liver, kidneys, and other soft tissues which might lead to irreversible organ damage – a case that rarely happens with skin-produced vitamin D which you can get by exposure to natural light!

Here are some ways you can increase exposure to natural light in order to prevent vitamin D deficiency.

Spend time outdoors

Being cooped up inside the house for long periods of time, especially during the day, is not good. It can severely limit the amount of sunlight exposure that you need for your body to produce vitamin D. Make sure to set aside time to go out. Take a quick walk to the nearby store or just sit outside in your yard. Not only will it provide you with some fresh air, it will also let you get some sunlight exposure.

Install a skylight

Unfortunately, going outside is not always feasible. During winter season, most people naturally prefer staying indoors and usually, they go out only for very short periods of time. The drastic decrease in sunlight exposure during this season is easily addressed by skylights. A home skylight will provide you with adequate natural light during the day and throughout the year – whether it is winter or not. Aside from getting the much needed sunlight exposure, skylights also lets you save big on energy costs because you can use natural light for illumination.

Open up your windows

If you have large windows at home, make use of them by opening the curtains every morning to let the sunlight in. Although skylights are still the best way to have natural light inside your home throughout the day, there’s no reason why you cannot utilise your windows too.

Sunlight or natural light is a very important resource, albeit sometimes taken for granted. The best thing about it is it is free and abundant, so make the most of it. We offer a good selection of home skylights that will help you get the benefits of natural light right inside your own home.

Call us today at 1300 SKYSPAN or enquire online.