I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I’m glad to be done with cold and dreary weather. Bring on the sunshine!

But my excitement is tempered a bit because, like many people with MS, I find the heat exhausting; it saps my energy and makes it even harder to get through the long summer days.

So whenever I feel worried about the heat of summer, I focus on the fact that the sun helps provide vitamin D, which our bodies create when bare skin is exposed to sunlight.

(Fun fact: the compound we call vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin. It’s a master hormone, which regulates other hormones in the body.)

Why is vitamin D so important? Well, you’ve probably seen articles discussing the benefits of vitamin D, and the issues that arise when you don’t have enough.

Vitamin D can protect against depression and osteoporosis. We need vitamin D to absorb calcium, which is critical for bone health. And there is also evidence that a reduced level of vitamin D may influence disease activity for those with multiple sclerosis. In fact, there’s some evidence that the farther away from the equator a person lives (and the less sun exposure they have) the higher their risk of developing MS.

So if vitamin D is so important, how can you make sure you get enough?

While it’s important to protect your skin with sunscreen to reduce your risk of skin cancer, spending 10 minutes each day outside may help. Take a walk in short sleeves, or enjoy lunch on a park bench.

You can also take supplements, which your physician or neurologist can prescribe for you after checking your vitamin D levels to see if they’re low.

Foods such as fatty fish (tuna, salmon and mackerel), egg yolks, and cheese can also provide a good amount of vitamin D.

So enjoy the sunshine; summer is not only a beautiful time of year, it may be good for your health!

Please share your own sunny ideas. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

In Health,

Elissa

Health Coach

Health/E, LLC

Ready to kick your sugar habit? Click over to my site for a free download! http://www.healthelissa.com.

Elissa is a holistic Health Coach and founder of Health/E, LLC. She works with individuals to help them find energy, strength and balance through nutrition, exercise and self-care. Elissa gives workshops throughout the NY area, and runs support groups for the National MS Society, in addition to working one-on-one with clients.