How long do I have to be in the sun to get enough Vitamin D for the day?

I’ve heard 40 minutes for recommended exposure.

You’ve asked some other good questions in your details, but unfortunately I don’t know the answers for them.

I read recently in an Oprah Magazine that it is hard to get enough Vitamin D through the sun depending on where you live. I take a Vitamin D3 mini gels daily to compensate.

I think it is about about 15 to 20 minutes a day. I never heard that it makes any difference what part of your body the sun hits.
See if this helps: http://www.wikihow.com/Get-More-Vitamin-D .

@jabag11 ignore the link I gave you since anyone can edit it. I don’t know how reliable it is.

It is dependent on where you live, time of day, weather conditions, time of year, you skin type, and the amount of skin exposed to the sun. If you are concerned about your level of Vitamin D, ask your doctor to test your levels.

I live in Norway, near the Arctic circle, and we are rather conscious of the issue. We drink untold amounts of milk and eat dairy products, but yet, we lead the world in osteoporosis problems. Vit D anyone? Yes, it’s a problem, but it depends on where you live and the amount of skin exposed to the suns rays. Wearing sunblock will inhibit the ability for Vit D synthesis. Expose yourself for a certain time, and then apply sunblock. ‘Sunshine’ is a relative term and dependant upon where you live. Our government pays for holidays to ‘syden’ or to the south, for people so they can have some warmth and sunshine for their health. It is really that important.

Also, some people just can’t get it this way, for whatever reason. I know of a couple of people on this site, myself included, who tested so low for Vitamin D that we had to go on super high doses just to get back to normal. (My level was “virtually undetectable”.) I recently took 50,000 units of D, once a week, for 4 months (prescription). I’ve just now been able to switch to 10,000 units a week.

The best thing to do, if you’re worried, is get your levels tested.

Sun exposure also helps the body make melatonin – the stuff that helps ya sleep!

thank you everyone!

thanks everyone! I will be asking more vitamin questions, just a few more, bare with me.