Here's What Your Shadow May Tell You About Your Vitamin D Production

A person's shadowThough the NHS recommends all adults “consider” taking vitamin D from around October to about March, recent research suggests that not all vitamin D supplements are created equal. A paper published in Nutrition Review suggested that vitamin D2 supplements might decrease a person’s D3 levels, which experts think might be linked to better immune function. The study’s lead researcher, Emily Brown, said: “This study suggests that, subject to personal considerations, vitamin D3 supplements may be more beneficial for most individuals over vitamin D2”. More research is needed to find out exactly how different types of vitamin D work. But apparently, there’s a very basic way to tell whether your afternoon walk is likely to stimulate any vitamin D: your shadow. What can my shadow tell me about my vitamin D levels?Speaking to BBC Science Focus, Professor Susan Lanham-New, head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Surrey and co-author of the Nutrition review we mentioned earlier, said: “People often think that on a sunny day in October, November and December they’ll make vitamin D.” But this is a mistake, she warned – in reality, “they just won’t make any”. In a separate BBC Science Focus interview earlier this year, Prof Lanham-New said: ”[From] October to March, you haven’t got the right wavelength to make vitamin D.“The best way of knowing that is that your shadow has to be shorter than your height. [From] April to September, on a sunny day, your shadow will be shorter than your height. October to March, [on] a sunny winter’s day, your shadow will be double your height.”She’s not alone in this thinking. The Royal Osteoporosis Society said: “If your shadow is shorter than your height, your body can produce vitamin D from sunlight exposure.“However, if your shadow is longer than your height, this means the sun is too low in the sky for you to be able to produce vitamin D.” The society recommends exposing your skin to sunlight for at least 10 minutes between the hours of 11am to 3pm, though you should “take care not to burn”.Sunscreen can help keep skin safe – and the Skin Cancer Foundation notes that “people who use sunscreen daily can maintain their vitamin D levels”.When should I take vitamin D? Again, the NHS says most adults should think about supplementing with vitamin D during the darker months in the UK. Babies who don’t have more than 500ml of formula milk a day, and children aged one to four, are advised to take a daily supplement throughout the year.Those who cover a lot of their skin, spend much of their time indoors, or are in nursing homes may benefit from taking the vitamin year-round as well, as may those with darker skin, the health service continued.Though some foods like oily fish, red meat, and egg yolks contain some vitamin D, “it’s difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone”. In the UK, it is also unlikely you’re getting enough sunshine from October to March to make adequate vitamin D. Related...Vitamin D Supplements May Weaken Your Immune System, But Only If You Take This TypeHere's How Much Vitamin D You Need, By AgeI'm A GP – Taking Too Much Vitamin D Can Cause This Condition

Comments

Breaking news

Prince Andrew ‘gagged Virginia Giuffre to protect Queen’s jubilee year’

Metro

Pictured: Company boss, 51, found 'murdered' in his own home two weeks after his wife died of cancer - as man, 31, is arrested

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Balcony collapse horror near University of Cincinnati as students plunge from 3rd floor while celebrating exams

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Top flight horse race is won by biggest-ever outsider in stunning 200-1 record upset

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Prince Andrew 'gagged' Virginia Giuffre for a year so the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations wouldn't be tarnished, book claims

about 2 hours ago

Burnley and Leeds stars are booed for taking the knee - as one player refuses to perform the gesture

Dailymail

Gary Neville comes under fire at Salford game as fan - who is wearing shirt calling pundit a 'traitor' - plants St George's flag in centre circle amid chants labelling him 'a w****r'

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Awkward wardrobe malfunction forces referee to intervene as Royal Albert Hall hosts Grand Sumo Tournament

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Kelly Osbourne cuts a heartbreaking figure as she clutches Ozzy's lifetime achievement award and says it 'would have meant the world to him'

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

British citizens who fought for Israel in Gaza should be tried for war crimes when they come home, Scottish Greens say

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Carol Vorderman, 64, reveals she's been 'very poorly' as she issues a major health update after being forced to quit her radio show following hospital scare

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Croissant for £42, caviar with scrambled eggs for £750 and a £48 omelette: How Michelin-starred breakfast became latest eating fad

about 2 hours ago

NHS nurse gets £300 parking fine while at work - as thousands of colleagues are targeted every year, new figures show

Dailymail

‘No Kings’ protests live updates: Anti-Trump rallies kick off in UK, Spain, Germany and Sweden before millions set to march in US

about 4 hours ago

Independent

The champion Dodgers are dominating October again. There's more behind their success than money

about 4 hours ago

Independent

Jason Momoa worked with a coach to speak Hawaiian authentically in 'Chief of War'

about 4 hours ago

Comments

Breaking news

Prince Andrew ‘gagged Virginia Giuffre to protect Queen’s jubilee year’

New blood test for 50 cancers ‘could make substantial difference to outcomes’

Ten injured after balcony collapses near University of Cincinnati as students were celebrating end of exams

Developing Rosebank oil field ‘pure climate vandalism’, Scottish Green insists

Jewish film festival postponed after cinemas ‘refuse to host events’

Police launch investigation after bar worker, 19, found dead in Manchester flat

US jury issues $20M verdict against French bank BNP Paribas over Sudanese atrocities

Reform’s newest MP Danny Kruger: ‘On a personal level I deeply regret rejecting the Tory party’

Lady Annabel Goldsmith death: Socialite who gave her name to London nightclub dies, aged 91

Skeletal woman 'locked in bedroom for 27 years' utters three chilling words

School staff member dies 'after being kicked in chest by pupil'

Scots mum's blurry vision during pregnancy uncovered as serious brain condition

Police probe new allegation against Scots Tinder rapist who faked own death

Portugal set for burka ban

Protesters in Germany demand removal of Madeleine McCann suspect

Prince Andrew still worth £3.7m even after losing all his royal titles

Three UK areas told by Met Office to prepare emergency kit - see if yours is one

EastEnders 90s heartthrobs now - drugs, illness and 'clown feuds'

Urgent warning as 'dangerous' fake weight loss drug is being pushed on social media

Aldi urgently recalls steaks over health fears as shoppers warned 'DO NOT EAT'

Prince William 'was driving force' behind Andrew giving up titles, claims royal expert

Donald Trump protests live: No Kings march in Washington DC attracts tens of thousands

Queen's one-word response to Prince Andrew's allegations before she passed

Burglary suspect does a poo in courtroom and lobs it at the judge before verdict

Ange Postecoglou SACKED by Nottingham Forest just minutes after heavy Chelsea loss

This hot chocolate advent calendar saves you £2 a day on fancy takeaway drinks

Pictured: Company boss, 51, found 'murdered' in his own home two weeks after his wife died of cancer - as man, 31, is arrested

Balcony collapse horror near University of Cincinnati as students plunge from 3rd floor while celebrating exams

Top flight horse race is won by biggest-ever outsider in stunning 200-1 record upset

Prince Andrew 'gagged' Virginia Giuffre for a year so the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations wouldn't be tarnished, book claims

Burnley and Leeds stars are booed for taking the knee - as one player refuses to perform the gesture

Net Zero destroyed my home: Father-of-one reveals how eco-friendly scheme cost him £250k and 'ripped his life apart'

Fury as historic Scottish sailing ship is towed out to sea and deliberately sunk off the coast of Hawaii

Gary Neville comes under fire at Salford game as fan - who is wearing shirt calling pundit a 'traitor' - plants St George's flag in centre circle amid chants labelling him 'a w****r'

Awkward wardrobe malfunction forces referee to intervene as Royal Albert Hall hosts Grand Sumo Tournament

Kelly Osbourne cuts a heartbreaking figure as she clutches Ozzy's lifetime achievement award and says it 'would have meant the world to him'

British citizens who fought for Israel in Gaza should be tried for war crimes when they come home, Scottish Greens say

Carol Vorderman, 64, reveals she's been 'very poorly' as she issues a major health update after being forced to quit her radio show following hospital scare

Croissant for £42, caviar with scrambled eggs for £750 and a £48 omelette: How Michelin-starred breakfast became latest eating fad

NHS nurse gets £300 parking fine while at work - as thousands of colleagues are targeted every year, new figures show

Inside Postecoglou's 39 days to forget at Forest

David Attenborough becomes oldest Daytime Emmy winner

Louisiana resident assisted in Hamas 7 October attack, US says

Watch: Brits row from Peru to Australia in tiny boat

Giuffre brother calls on King to strip Andrew of prince title

Eleven killed after Israel hits bus in Gaza, Hamas-run civil defence says

‘I dressed as Thatcher for Halloween 13 years ago as a joke – now it’s my full-time job’

Mystery of ‘crocodile’ spotted in UK river solved after police’s ‘strangest appeal ever’

Terrifying moment fire breaks out on plane travelling at 33,000ft

Fire chief’s home set ablaze after dog chews through lithium battery

Cowboy builder wrecked woman’s memorial garden for two-year-old granddaughter

Putin foe stabbed to death in Istanbul villa where he lived in exile

Ofcom orders BBC to air on TV finding that Gaza film broke broadcasting rules

Shutdown impact: What it means for workers, federal programs and the economy

Work begins to restore power to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Unions warn Reeves they could abandon Labour if she ‘panders to the right’ with more welfare cuts

Putin wants Farage to win to divide Europe, says Lammy

‘No Kings’ protests live updates: Anti-Trump rallies kick off in UK, Spain, Germany and Sweden before millions set to march in US

The champion Dodgers are dominating October again. There's more behind their success than money

Jason Momoa worked with a coach to speak Hawaiian authentically in 'Chief of War'