The summer’s long hours of sunlight are an opportunity to boost our spinal health. “How so?” you may ask. ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge is more than a chiropractic clinic; we take a holistic view of health that includes nutritional counseling. And for reasons we’ll explain in this post, getting exposure to sunlight will help our bodies to absorb the minerals they need to maintain strong bones.
One of the main components of bones is calcium. As living tissue, bones are constantly breaking down and rebuilding. But our bodies don’t produce calcium on their own; they have to absorb it from food. And when they aren’t getting enough calcium, the bones can’t regrow fast enough to keep pace with their natural resorption. This results in them becoming honeycombed, which is the condition known as osteoporosis. When vertebrae are honeycombed, they can easily fracture, leading to them slowly collapse and causing a person to stoop over.
Too much calcium is harmful, so our bodies’ absorption of it is regulated by Vitamin D. And in order to make Vitamin D, our skin needs to be exposed to direct sunlight. About fifteen minutes three times per week is enough for most people, although people who are older or who have darker skin may need a little more. Vitamin D and calcium are also commonly used to fortify foods such as dairy products, breakfast cereals, and orange juice. However, food may not be a sufficient source of Vitamin D and calcium, and getting sunlight in the summer months is also an opportunity for healthy exercise. With proper nutrition, osteoporosis doesn’t have to be inevitable, and peoples’ bones may remain strong throughout life.
We offer nutritional counseling as well as musculoskeletal pain relief. For a nutritional analysis, visit Dr. Carmelino Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.
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