Tanning Benefits To Your Health

The Benefits of Tanning Beds

You might be surprised at the number of benefits of tanning beds. Obviously, the most obvious benefit is developing a wonderful tan. Typically, as summer approaches, people will begin to visit the local tanning salon to establish a base tan so when they do go outdoors in the sun they do not burn, or to develop a rich tan that looks as if they just came back from a vacation in Hawaii. Then, there are other individuals who have a special function to attend whereby they want a healthy glow.

While getting a tan is the first benefit most people think of, in reality, there are other benefits of tanning beds that you might not have considered. For example, in the past few years, new scientific research has been conducted whereby it has been identified that exposure to UV rays actually helps the body create a natural supply of Vitamin D.

Since many unfortunate diseases are linked directly to Vitamin D deficiencies to include both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, using a tanning bed to increase these vitamin levels is a huge benefit. In addition to strengthening bone, Vitamin D is also essential for the prevention of many forms of cancer to include prostate, colon, and breast.

Some people will tan indoors simply because of convenience. Take people who live in states where sunshine is a rare occurrence. In this situation, a tanning bed can be substituted for the lack of sunlight but keep in mind that because most beds emit from 50% to 100% the UV rays over that of the sun, the individual should be responsible about the amount of time spent in the bed as well as the frequency of use.

Interestingly, the number of men versus women who use indoor tanning beds is just about equal. Most people will tell you that when they have tan skin, they feel better, look healthier, and have a thinner, fit appearance. While there are risks associated with tanning beds, the fact remains that people feel better when they have a tan. For that reason, indoor tanning continues to be a popular solution.

In fact, more than 50% of people who enjoy indoor tanning say that they actually use this form of tanning as a means of controlling how much exposure to the sun they get. In other words, they can determine the amount of UV rays by choosing the schedule time in the "sun."

If you are interested in tanning indoors, just remember that along with several valid benefits there are also risk factors to consider. UV rays are UV rays whether they come from the sun or a tanning bed. Therefore, the amount received must be limited to avoid damaging the skin and eyes.

With some good, old-fashioned common sense, tanning beds do provide a means for establishing and maintaining a beautiful, golden tan.

Source: www.tanninginfocenter.com

Aloha Tan Question :: How Much D?

The dangers of not getting enough vitamin D are so great that experts say people should take a blood test for D levels once a year - just as they check their cholesterol regularly. Current daily recommendations for vitamin D suggest people under the age of 50 get 200 IU's a day; 51- to 60- year-olds aim for 400 IU's; for those 70 and over, 600 IU's.

That's enough to keep bones healthy, others believe we need even more to avoid other diseases. In the absence of sunlight, the daily dose may be more on the order of 800 IU's to 1000 IU's a day. (More than 2000 IU's can be harmful, producing a toxic buildup of calcium in the bloodstream.)

But getting 800 IU's isn't too hard to achieve. An 8-ounce cup of milk contains almost 100 IU's. For the lactose intolerant or those who don't like dairy, Minute Maid offers D-fortified orange juice. D supplements are easy to find, usually packaged with calcium. Better still, get outside. All it takes is 10-20 minutes a day - without sunscreen.