Yes, sunblock and sunscreen does inhibit the body’s ability to produce Vitamin D.
However, with a Vitamin D rich diet and limited daily exposure to the sun, the body will most likely have adequate levels of Vitamin D.
Foods rich in Vitamin D include milk, broccoli, mushrooms, fatty fish such as salmon and tuna. Vitamin D supplements are also an easy way to increase the body’s Vitamin D levels safely.
A few things to note:
* Darker skin needs longer sun exposure for the body to produce the same levels of Vitamin D as fairer skinned people.
* Experts recommend that levels in summer are six to eight minutes a day on most days, with 15 percent of your body exposed eg. arms, hands and face. In winter, it should be half an hour most days.
* It is simple to get your Vitamin D levels checked by your GP so get tested and monitor your levels through diet as well as moderate, safe levels of sun exposure, as required.