Most people will find this question awkward as every room in modern homes has got an attached bathroom. So why am I asking such a question?

For couple of days, I am noticing my father spending time under the Sun on the roof top in late afternoon. So today I asked why he is doing this. He told me that he wants to get some Sun exposure for gaining some Vitamin D. So I told him about the right time to do Sun bath.

But why do we need a Sunbath?

Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D, the only vitamin that the human body can make. Fortunately, my country, India, has got ample Sunlight in almost all of its geography. In earlier times, when most of India used to work in fields, deficiency of Vitamin D was not known.

Today most urban people have chosen a sedentary lifestyle. They live in an airconditioned house, work in an airconditioned office and travel in an airconditioned car. Even if they have to go out in Sun, they will wear Sunscreen creams & lotions on their skin and will completely cover their body with clothing. So they don’t get any Sun exposure.

Despite ample availability of Sunlight here, our lifestyle has made us deficient in Vitamin D. Today, vitamin D deficiency has acquired epidemic proportion in the country.

Vitamin D is vital for overall health of our bones and teeth as it helps in absorbing Calcium from our diet. Over 90% of vitamin D in our body is synthesized through solar UVB irradiation of the skin. Most people can make enough Vitamin D by being out in the Sun daily. So it becomes important to get that necessary Sun exposure every day. There is no need to depend on external supplementation for it.

When to take Sunbath?

Many people know the importance of Sunbathing but don’t know the best time to do it. Some people would prefer in the morning (at the time of Surya Namaskar) while others will suggest evening (during Sandhya). Naturopathy clearly states to do it in afternoon hours.

A pan-India study which was published in Osteoporosis International has revealed that the best time to get exposed to the sun is between 11am and 1pm since the wavelength of ultraviolet B (UVB) rays is 290-320nm during this period which is essential for skin to make vitamin D.

General advice is to take the sunbath when your shadow is shorter than your own height. So a time between 10 am & 2 pm should be considered the best time.

How to Sunbathe

The best way to sunbathe is to completely undress yourself and lie naked under the Sun exposing both sides of your body one by one. Do not use any obstruction like sunscreens on your skin while you sunbathe. 20 to 30 minute time is sufficient for a sunbath depending on your skin tone (darker tone needs more exposure than fair skin).

That’s it and your nutritional needs for Vitamin D are met naturally. Is it tough to do?

So do you have a room for bathing at your home?

In Naturopathy, Sunbathing is given more importance than regular water bath we use to take daily these days. Naturopathy emphasizes on Sunbath, mud bath and even air bath over water bath.

We all have many bathrooms in our homes to take that least important water-bath. But I find it difficult to get a Sunbath at home …a place where I can lie down completely undressed under the Sun.

Some years back, when I was suffering from back-pain, I used to go about 7 km from my home to the banks of a large water body, just to lie down there naked under the Sun. It was socially acceptable at that place since there weren’t many visitors in the afternoon hours. Same thing can be done around your Society’s swimming pool area …with your swimming suits on. Swimming suit will also give a good exposure compared to none, when you are completely covered.

Today, I suggest everyone who has got a roof on their house or an open piece of land attached to their house to allocate a certain section of this area for Sunbath by creating a 5-6 feet high cubicle with the help of some curtains. This will make every member of your family to Sunbathe in complete privacy.

• What do you think about having such a bathroom in your home?
• Is there a better idea for lying naked under the Sun in congested urban homes?
• Do you take Sunbath often? If so, where?