Coinciding with the first week of summer, a study published today underscores the importance of getting adequate amounts of sunlight for its vitamin D-boosting benefits. The research, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows that those with the lowest vitamin D levels have more than double the risk of dying from heart disease and other causes over an eight-year period compared with those with the highest vitamin D levels. The researchers cite “decreased outdoor activity” as one reason that people may become deficient in vitamin D. Another recent study found an increased risk of heart attacks in those with low vitamin D levels.

Read more from Time in the Sun: How Much Is Needed for Vitamin D?

We tend to think of a nice tan as something glamorous, healthy and attractive, but actually the process is far from it and is very dangerous. In fact your skin tans in order to protect itself from more skin damage! The sunshine makes people feel good, but the cost of a bronzed body is become steeper and the idea of the healthy tan is slowly evaporating. People are becoming educated in the risks of excessive sun exposure and many are realizing that too much of it will come back to haunt you. Here are some of the dangers that could affect you and your children.

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However, some vitamin D is good for you, yes? Some people think the higher incidences in the US Pacific Northwest of MS is perhaps due to less sunlight/vitamin D. And what about the better fake tanning products, which have come a long way in ten years?