WE all love feeling the warm Andalucian sunshine on our backs, but new research has shown that catching a few rays can actually stop our children from feeling low.

A University of Bristol study found that youngsters with higher levels of vitamin D, created by the body when the sun shines on our skin, have a 10 per cent lower risk of suffering from depression.

What’s more, they have a lower chance of developing depressive symptoms in their teens.

Although vitamin D can be found in oily fish such as tuna, and is often added to milk and cereals, the main way of getting it is through the sun.

To get enough, you need around 20 minutes’ exposure on bare face, arms, back or legs – without sunscreen – twice a week.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. It’s amazing what a little bit of sunshine can do. I think it is a great idea to have children and perhaps everyone get more sunshine.e We spend too much time indoors and say from nature and apparently it hurts our wellbeing.

  2. John,
    the same can be said for Scotland and Scandinavia. There’s even a suggestion that the Scots might supply vitamin D as a supplement for all Scots.

    I personally suffer from SAD and it was this and the endless days of wind and rain that made us leave Galicia. I forgot to mention that most of northern Galicia is one huge Eucalyptus forest and looking out on that terrible grey/green did’nt help matters.

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