People With MS: Here Comes the Sun!

Elissa Holzman avatar

by Elissa Holzman |

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Vitamin D and MS

Iā€™m sure Iā€™m not alone when I say that Iā€™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. Itā€™s a master hormone, which regulates other hormones in the body.)

Why is vitamin D so important? Well, youā€™ve probably seen articles discussing the benefits of vitamin D, and the issues that arise when you donā€™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, thereā€™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 itā€™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 theyā€™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! https://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.

Comments

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Sun exposure for all patients? Even those with outbreaks in the cervical spine or the thorax ?

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