{"id":295534,"date":"2025-07-27T09:31:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T09:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/295534\/"},"modified":"2025-07-27T09:31:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T09:31:14","slug":"you-might-still-be-vitamin-d-deficient-even-in-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/295534\/","title":{"rendered":"You might still be vitamin D deficient\u2014even in summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Israeli summer<\/a> is here, and the streets are filled with people wearing wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses and generous amounts of sunscreen<\/a>. It\u2019s no surprise\u2014Israel\u2019s sun is intense, and concerns about skin cancer<\/a> are well-founded. But here lies a surprising paradox: while we protect ourselves from the sun, we may also be preventing our bodies from producing enough vitamin D<\/a>\u2014a nutrient now recognized as essential not only for strong bones, but also for slowing aging and improving overall quality of life.<\/p>\n

3 View gallery <\/p>\n

\"\u05d7\u05d5\u05e3<\/a>\"\u05d7\u05d5\u05e3<\/p>\n

Tel Aviv in summer <\/p>\n

(Photo: Omri Eliyahu \/ Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

Despite living in one of the sunniest regions in the world, many Israelis spend most of their time in the shade. The reason for the paradox is straightforward: our necessary precautions against UVB radiation\u2014long clothing, staying indoors and using high-SPF sunscreen\u2014are the very factors that limit the body\u2019s ability to generate vitamin D.<\/p>\n

How the body is supposed to work\u2014and why it often doesn\u2019t<\/p>\n

Sunscreens are crucial, and applying them is good practice. But there\u2019s a trade-off: SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, and SPF 50 blocks around 98%. While this shields skin from aging and cancer, it also sharply reduces the skin\u2019s ability to synthesize vitamin D. In reality, most people don’t apply sunscreen perfectly, so some vitamin D production does occur\u2014but it is often insufficient, especially for those who spend most of their time in the shade, in vehicles or in air-conditioned offices.<\/p>\n

When skin is exposed to UVB rays, a natural process begins: skin cells convert a compound called 7-DHC into vitamin D. The vitamin is then processed by the liver and kidneys into its active form\u2014calcitriol\u2014which plays a vital role in numerous bodily functions.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s especially at risk for vitamin D deficiency?<\/p>\n