We should all be supplementing with vitamin D

After blood tests showed I had low vitamin D levels, I’ve been making an effort to get at least 15 minutes of direct sunshine every day.

I think the biggest problem is that wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers means you only get sunlight on your face. This is a double whammy - not only do you not get enough exposure for vitamin D, but you also increase the risk of skin cancer (or just general sun damage) on your face.

I’ve since moved to Singapore, where it’s too hot to wear anything but shorts and a T-shirt. This makes things a lot easier.

Couldn’t we do more to encourage public sunbathing, to allow greater skin exposure over the whole body (back and upper legs in particular)? I suspect we would see non-negligible improvements in public health, such as those referred to in the article.

I've been supplementing with Vitamin D for years now since I tested low by my doctor. I get plenty of sun exposure but for some reason I'm always low. Maybe because of sun screen? In any case, every once in a while I'll stop taking it and usually end up feeling like garbage.

I think it's the only vitamin where I have ever experienced that.