HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1942, Page 4

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

THE SUNSHINE TONIC.

VALUE OF ULTRA VIOLET RAYS. (By the Health Department.) With a probable shortage of Vitamin D supplies in the form of fish liver oil, because of manufacturing and shipping difficulties overseas, parents and teachers are advised to get the children out into the sunshine for an hour a day, -if possible, and let the ultra violet rays get in some good work on the youthful bodies. Though most of the summer is over, there is still plenty of warm sunshine ahead, and even in the winter limited sunbathing is possible. If the-children are encouraged to get into their sunsuits and take a regular dose of sunshine, the lack of artificial sources of Vatamin D will not be so greatly felt, and the risk of Vitamin D deficiency developing will be minimised. Vitamin D makegjt possible for the body to use the minerals from other food substances and build them into sturdy bones and strong teeth; it helps to make red blood cells and to build up resistance to infection. Unless it is supplied in adequate amounts, defects and deformities of the bone will occur, muscles will become flabby, the nervous system will become irritable, and convulsions may occur. In short, withcut sufficient Vitamin D sound health is impossible. When the body is exposed to direct sunlight, the ultra-violet rays from the sun act on certain substances .in the skin, and from them form Vitamin D. Fox 1 that reason sun bathing is very important for infants and young children when growth is most rapid. It is at this time that supplies of this vitamin are most apt to be inadequate to meet the requirements of the body. From very early life the daily sche-, dule should allow time for a sunbath. Indications now are that this will be more necessary than ever. The war lords may be able to upset the fish liver oil market, but they are not yet able to dictate to the sun.