If you are feeling sluggish or depressed, you may be low in vitamin D. According to a 2011 study,
41.6% of all US adults are deficient in this vitamin. While supplements can work for some people, that may not be enough since vitamin D production is much more abundant from sun exposure. Read on to learn more about vitamin D deficiency and how professional tanning could be a potential solution to this problem.
What Is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is a fat-soluble chemical compound that has many functions in the human body. Compared to other vitamins, vitamin D acts more like a hormone since every cell has a receptor for it. Vitamin D has a critical role:
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maintaining normal phosphate and calcium levels in your body
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increasing intestinal absorption of magnesium and calcium
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modulating healthy bone tissue
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maintaining cell growth, immune function, and neuromuscular function
You can get vitamin D from supplements or from foods like dairy productions or fish, but sunlight is extremely important for vitamin D production. When UV rays strike your skin, your body synthesizes vitamin D from cholesterol in your skin cells. When you don't have enough vitamin D from adequate sunlight, you may develop a vitamin D deficiency.
What Are the Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency? Some people experience depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) if they are deficient in vitamin D. Some other symptoms of deficiency include:
- hair loss
- muscle pain
- fatigue
- headaches
- slow wound healing
Because vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining your immune system, people with a deficiency may also get viruses or bacterial infections more easily.
How Can Professional Tanning Help Vitamin D Levels? Every professional tanning service is different, but most sunbeds emit both UVB and UVA light. UVB light is similar to light that is emitted by the sun and can be an effective alternative to get your vitamin D source during colder days.
Even if you live in a warm state, like California, you may not get all the natural sunlight you need if you are inside all day for school or work. Professional tanning can be a good solution because you can do these sessions during your free time, such as after work when the sun may already be going down.
As you fix vitamin D levels with tanning, you may see an improvement in your mood and overall energy level. As regular tanning sessions fix your vitamin D levels, your serotonin levels will also increase. Serotonin can improve digestion and reduce depressive symptoms; it is also a preceded by melatonin, which can help you sleep better at night.
When you improve your vitamin D levels with tanning, you may reduce your susceptibility to seasonal illnesses, like the flu. One study found that people who used tanning beds to raise their vitamin D levels also had significantly higher bone density.
Besides improving your vitamin D levels, tanning in moderation can lower your risk of endometrial cancer and lower the risk of venous thrombotic events. Improving your vitamin D levels can affect so many aspects of your health, as people who have adequate amounts of this vitamin may be less prone to serious diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, and multiple sclerosis.
While tanning has many positive outcomes for your health, it's important that you follow any recommendations the tanning service may have for you. Your tanning sessions don't necessarily need to be very long in order for you to improve your vitamin D levels. For instance, if you have pale skin, your beginning sessions may only need to be a few minutes in length until you build up a base tan.
Reach out to us at Golden State Tanning Studio to learn more about our tanning services and how we can improve both your appearance and overall health.
