How long to sunbathe on a daily basis?

[Ms Joeyy]

I am aware as to the health benefits the sun can provide, I have been wondering however, as I can't seem to draw an estimated answer, as to how long one should sunbathe for, safely? I don't use any sunblocks and I have been sunbathing for approximately 30 minutes or so daily. This is strictly laying out on my porch soaking up the sun. In addition, I am also under the sun most days while walking with my dog, but it's usually during the sunset hours when the sun is not at it's strongest. I have noticed a difference in my face complexion ever since I have consistently been sunbathing. Along with of course, my 95% raw diet now. So I'd like to hear your answers if any of you do sunbathe for health benefits. Also, I was taking a vitamin D/fish oil capsule from USANA health twice daily, but I stopped taking it once I decided to soak up the sun instead. Does that sound like a better option?

[SunshineMN]

I'm trying to get a little more sun also. I don't specifically sunbathe because I'm very pale and currently on medication that makes me photosensitive. The one thing I learned recently that I wasn't aware of (or had forgotten from high school) is that you can wash off the vitamin D before it's absorbed by the body. I don't remember which thread they were talking about it in, but it's in the main forum here. Someone posted that it can take up to 48 hours for the vitamin D to be absorbed. Sometimes I just rinse gently with water and try to avoid a lot of soap use and I don't shower every day. A washrag works fine for washing up without needing a full shower all the time.

Might want to see if you can find the thread, but if I remember correctly they were saying 15-20 minutes a day is enough.

[Revvell]

I do what feels good. No one can tell how long is safe for anyone else. It all depends on where one is located; the type of skin they have; what they eat and who knows what else?

[MysticTree]

I don't sunbathe specifically. It's easy to get 20 minutes of sun a day with just a t shirt on and pottering about in the garden or a short walk at lunchtime.

[PansyLo]

It depends what country you're in. In Scotland there is no sun for 97% of the year!! When it is hot I can sit out in it for a couple of hours without burning. When it's sunny I try and sunbath properly to soak up all the rays I can get.

I figure as long as you're not getting burnt you want to get as much as possible.

[Raw Angel Mom]

If you are fair skin 15min if you are not, then it cans be up to 30 min.

You can vitamin D even on a cloudy day, or rainy day. Sun raise and sun set are ideal time. No lotion on your skin or sun glasses. I would avoid to go during the peak of the sun unless it is cloudy.

All the best!

[fastfreedom]

I think also that as your body gets more sun and you become darker then you will need to get more sunshine to get the same vitamin D levels you were getting when you were more pale and getting no sun.

[Revvell]

If you are fair skin 15min if you are not, then it cans be up to 30 min.


And, you come up with these numbers how? There's more to take into consideration than one's skin tone.

Up to :30? I live in sunny Southern California ~ that's not going to happen AND, if you live in Washington where they get little sun.... SO much more to take into consideration ... how far from the equator one lives; how much sun they get where they live.... what they eat on a regular basis....

[streetsurfer]

What time of day, time of year. location, elevation, all matter because it changes the angle of the sun and how much atmosphere it's light and radiation have to filter through, and that affects the color spectrum of it's light and amount of radiation making it to you. Pollution levels, humidity levels all add to the filteringor magnifying of it. You can see how this makes it difficult to give a specific time for sitting out. Go until medium rare, lol.

[Revvell]

Go until medium rare, lol.

Unless you're a Dane like Himself who turns bright red before he gets to rare.....

[lynch]

My advise to you go sunbathe between sunrise up 9 am. That's the only time you can get vitamins from it, because the rest of the time you can get sick and get some diseases. Not in sunset you cannot gey any vitamins from that time.

[Living Food]

As long as possible every day. It's that simple; just sunbathe/be out in the sun for as long as you can without being burned, every day when it's practical to do so.

[Revvell]

Whaaaaat????? Where does THIS information come from? Or, is this tongue-in-cheek? Must be. CanNOT be serious.


My advise to you go sunbathe between sunrise up 9 am. That's the only time you can get vitamins from it, because the rest of the time you can get sick and get some diseases. Not in sunset you cannot gey any vitamins from that time.

[MysticTree]

Whaaaaat????? Where does THIS information come from? Or, is this tongue-in-cheek? Must be. CanNOT be serious.
think it may be for setting up sig spam in the future??? Maybe.

[Living Food]

My advise to you go sunbathe between sunrise up 9 am. That's the only time you can get vitamins from it, because the rest of the time you can get sick and get some diseases. Not in sunset you cannot gey any vitamins from that time.


Good thing I actually missed that when I first posted, or I may have had some choice things to say :)

Let's just ignore it, and if he tries to justify it then we can rip him/her to shreds *evil grin*

[Tone]

I am aware as to the health benefits the sun can provide, I have been wondering however, as I can't seem to draw an estimated answer, as to how long one should sunbathe for, safely?

There isn't really a time limit to how long one should stay in the sun. If you start getting burnt and irritated, you should probably get under the shade hehe. It all depends on your skin complexion. Darker people can stay in the sun longer before they get sun burnt.

If you want to safely protect your skin from ultra violent rays, just make sure you aren't Vitamin E deficient.

What has the most Vitamin E?... SUNflower seeds! :D I soak my seeds for a couple hours in water before i eat mine, they unlock more goodness that way and they're a lot easier to digest that way too.

[lynch]

I'm sorry but I heard it from one of my cousins. She is a Doctor in the Philippines,. And Yes that information is true.

I'm just suggesting, don't get mad at me.

[MysticTree]

No it isn't true. At least not in the UK. But getting back to the original question. It's not necessary to set aside sunbathing time if you spend time outdoors in the sun. You can be gardening, walking, taking a boat trip or doing something else. Just have skin exposed.

[Revvell]

I'm sorry but I heard it from one of my cousins. She is a Doctor in the Philippines,. And Yes that information is true.

How do you know it's true? Because one person said it? What if I say it's not true and I live in California and am older than your cousin?


I'm just suggesting, don't get mad at me.

Nobody is mad at you (far as I know).... just disputing your statement and, no, you're not "suggesting" since you say it's true. That's not a suggestion.

[Revvell]

No it isn't true. At least not in the UK. But getting back to the original question. It's not necessary to set aside sunbathing time if you spend time outdoors in the sun. You can be gardening, walking, taking a boat trip or doing something else. Just have skin exposed.

Now THAT is true.... since MT said it... ummmm....your qualifications are...? You're not my cousin though... hmmmm...

[MysticTree]

We could be adopted cousins if you like. If that helps :)

[Revvell]

We could be adopted cousins if you like. If that helps :)

O.k., that'll make what we say true. *does happy squirrely dance*