Health Benefits of UV Light: Increases the production of Vitamin D. Lowers the risk of many forms of cancer Helps alleviate Seasonal Affect Disorder Lowers the risk of heart disease Lowers the risk of osteoporosis Lowers the risk of multiple sclerosis Limited sun or UV exposure to the skin is the human race's natural, intended, most effective and most neglected source of Vitamin D. Vitamin D sufficiency, along with diet and exercise, has emerged as one of the most important preventive factors in human health. Hundreds of studies now link Vitamin D deficiency with significantly higher rates of many forms of cancer‚ as well as heart disease‚ osteoporosis‚ multiple sclerosis and many other conditions, diseases and disorders such as Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD). Few foods naturally contain or are fortified with supplemental vitamin D. For example, an 8-ounce glass of whole milk is fortified with 100 IU (international units) of Vitamin D is just 10 percent of what the most conservative vitamin D researchers now say we need daily. In contrast, sun or UV exposure to the skin makes thousands of units of vitamin D naturally in a relatively short period of time. Today we have a coalition of many physicians, individuals and organizations who advocate natural vitamin D production through regular, non-burning exposure to UV light and specifically UVB. As humans, we make 90 percent of our vitamin D naturally from sunlight or UV exposure to our skin and specifically from UV B exposure to the skin, which naturally occurs or initiated with the conversion of cholesterol in the skin to Vitamin D3. Sunlight or a limited exposure to UVB light is the best and only natural source of vitamin D. Unlike dietary or supplementary vitamin D, when you get your 'D' from sunshine your body takes what it needs, and de-metabolizes any extra. That's critical as vitamin D experts and many health groups now advocate 1,000 to 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily or about five to ten times the old recommendations. Because too much 'D' from dietary supplements may cause the body to over-process calcium, nobody really knows for sure how much supplementary vitamin D is safe. On the other hand, sunlight or UV-induced vitamin D doesn't have that problem. It's the way our body is intended to make it! Safe UV Tanning promotes good health as well as good looks. The amount of vitamin D produced depends on the intensity of the UVB in the sun and many other factors. Darker-skinned individuals may need 5-10 times more exposure than a fair-skinned person to make the same amount of vitamin D. In northern climates sunlight is too weak in parts of the year to make any vitamin D, which is commonly referred to as a 'Vitamin D Winter'. Sunlight Exposure (full body exposure)* 3,000 20,000 IU Source: Holick, MF. Vitamin D Deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, July 2007 Note: We at Magic Tan do not recommend over expose to UV light on your skin. There are many risks of severe skin damage associated with excessive exposure. We advocate a sensible and managed approach to good health. In most cases a single 10 minute session in one of our tanning beds is suggested just three times a week. This information brought to you by: