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Tag: Uvb radiation

Explore our comprehensive collection of health articles in this category.

How much vitamin D do you get from the moon? (Spoiler: None)

4 min read
Moonlight is up to 400,000 times dimmer than sunlight, and its reflected light contains a negligible amount of the specific UVB radiation required for your body to produce vitamin D. This definitively answers the question of how much vitamin D do you get from the moon: none at all.

What Produces the Most Vitamin D? Sources and Synthesis

4 min read
The human body naturally synthesizes vitamin D when skin is exposed to UVB radiation from the sun, but many factors affect this process. Cod liver oil, for instance, contains a remarkably high amount of vitamin D, making it a very potent source from a dietary standpoint. This guide examines what produces the most vitamin D across various sources.

What is the non-food source of vitamin D?

4 min read
An estimated 1 billion people worldwide have inadequate levels of vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin essential for bone health and immune function. While many people focus on dietary intake, the primary non-food source of vitamin D is exposure to the sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.

Understanding the Environmental Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

5 min read
Approximately 90% of the body's vitamin D is synthesized through exposure to sunlight, yet studies show deficiency is a major global health problem affecting millions. While diet and genetics play a role, a significant and often overlooked aspect is the influence of our environment. Understanding these external factors is crucial for prevention.

Which type of climate is most likely to cause vitamin D deficiency?

4 min read
According to a study published by the WHO, many regions with abundant sunshine still report high rates of vitamin D insufficiency. This global phenomenon is tied to various factors, with certain climates being most likely to cause vitamin D deficiency due to insufficient UVB exposure, regardless of perceived sun availability.

Does your body make vitamin D from sunlight?

4 min read
According to the National Institutes of Health, the sun is the primary natural source of vitamin D, and your body can produce this vital nutrient when exposed to sunlight. This unique process is how your body naturally creates a fat-soluble prohormone, which is then converted into its active form for use in the body.

Vitamin D: The Only Vitamin Which Requires UV Light

4 min read
The synthesis of vitamin D is uniquely dependent on ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight, making it the only vitamin that requires UV light for its primary production in the body. This remarkable process explains why vitamin D is often referred to as the 'sunshine vitamin'.

What Fat Is a Precursor to Vitamin D? The Role of 7-Dehydrocholesterol

4 min read
Did you know that as many as 50% of people worldwide may have insufficient vitamin D levels? This vital nutrient, crucial for calcium absorption and bone health, is naturally produced in the skin. Understanding what fat is a precursor to vitamin D is key to grasping how this process occurs and how you can optimize your body's production.

How does cholesterol turn into vitamin D?

4 min read
The human body is capable of producing its own vitamin D, but it can only do so by first converting a specific precursor found in cholesterol. This remarkable process is a photochemical reaction that hinges on exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.