Benefits of Sunlight
August 11, 2020
The best known benefit of sunshine is its ability to boost the body’s vitamin D supply.
The last couple of weeks have been reminders that it is summer here in the Northwest. The spring rain and cold weather lingered what seemed like a very long time this year. I am enjoying the bright sunny days and the beautiful summer sunsets.
Some have wondered if the success that the open-air hospitals had in treating influenza patients was due to sunshine rather than fresh air. One could probably research and debate this for a long time because they both have big benefits.
The best known benefit of sunshine is its ability to boost the body’s vitamin D supply. There are at least 1,000 genes which govern nearly every tissue in the body are now thought to be regulated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D], the active form of the vitamin. Several of these tissues are involved in calcium metabolism and neuromuscular and immune system functions. Low levels of vitamin D are linked to several kinds of cancer, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. People living at higher altitudes throughout the world are at higher risk of hypertension and patients with cardiovascular disease are often found to be deficient in vitamin D. Sun exposure and higher levels of 25(OH)D may confer protection against other illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and infectious diseases.
What should our vitamin D levels be? Many experts today believe that levels of 25(OH)D between 40 and 60 ng/mL maximize protection against cancer and other chronic diseases. Anything under 20 ng/mL is considered a vitamin D deficiency. A couple of years ago a physician friend in Spokane told me that he had started testing a large number of his patients for vitamin D levels and had not found even one with optimal levels.
We live our lives largely indoors. In the beautiful Pacific Northwest, nearly half of the year the sun is not at a good angle to allow our bodies to produce vitamin D. Many of us likely need to take a vitamin D supplement in addition to getting more sunshine. Many experts are recommending 2,000 IU vitamin D3 plus 12-15 minutes of midday sun with 40% of your skin exposed every day or 4,000 IU vitamin D3 every day without sun exposure.
The “take-home” message? Get your vitamin D level checked if you haven’t already. Add a supplement if your levels are low. Get outside and responsibly enjoy some sunshine while it lasts.
News
David Jamieson recent exciting events in Upper Columbia Conference.
After an extensive search, the Upper Columbia Academy board of directors has appointed Twila S. Brown as its new principal starting the 2026-2027 school year.
This spring, members and guests at All Nations Center stepped back into one of the most pivotal religious liberty moments in Adventist history.
Seventy Upper Columbia Conference Teen Pathfinders dedicated their spring break to service, teamwork and spiritual growth during the 2026 Teen Pathfinder Mission Adventure in Northeast Oregon.
On May 9, 2026, Home of Shalom gathered by the Spokane River for the church plant’s first baptism.
When we live out the gospel, it’s attractive. That’s the quiet reality being lived by Pasco Riverview Adventist Church members and their community.
After Melanee Waite came home to a flooded kitchen, and received only a partial repair, she had resigned herself to having a non-functioning kitchen.
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) named Eryn Fletcher, a junior at Cascade Christian Academy, as a 2026 National High School 'Heart of the Arts' honoree.
From January 10 to April 11, Home of Shalom hosted public worship services on the second and fourth Sabbaths at the Northtown Mall food court in Spokane, WA.
At the end of the last quarter of 2025, the East Wenatchee Hispanic Adventist Church experienced a tremendous blessing.
