People With MS: Here Comes the Sun!

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! 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.