“Here comes the sun, little Darlin. Here comes the sun, I say It’s alright  It’s alright. “

Annie gently sang the words to Nina Simone’s Famous Here Comes the Sun song in LJ’s ear. She nudged him, “sweetheart, we are getting ready to land in Cancun, time to wake up.”  LJ opened his eyes and sang the next stanza,

“It’s been a cold lonely winter Little Darlin It feels like years since we’ve been here.”

They looked at each other and sang,

“Here comes the sun

Aren’t you glad to see it?

I say, yeah.

It’s alright

  It’s alright.”

” It’s going to be hot and sunny, just the way I like it. I say bring on the sun, sand, and surf,” said LJ.

Annie laughed, “not so fast, my love; we need to talk about just how much sun we’re going to get on this vacay. The closer to the equator, the more intense the sun, so we must be mindful of wearing sun protection. According to Dr. Terri Dunn @allskindermatology, unprotected skin and a high Melanin level do not protect against the risk of sun-related damage including skin cancer. She advises always wear sunscreen whenever we are outside, including in winter.”

LJ put on his hat and grabbed the overhead suitcases, “So if the sun is the best source of vitamin D, the only nutrient our body produces when exposed to sunlight, which we all need for bone growth, healthy teeth, and immune system support – and most of us are D-ficient, how are we supposed to get adequate amounts?”

“Wearing sunscreen does not lead to vitamin D insufficiency, so that’s a habit we’ll keep. Since we humans need 600 IUs daily (over age 71 needs 800 IUs), we will concentrate on vitamin D-dense foods, such as salmon, sardines, rainbow trout, and canned tuna. Eggs, mushrooms, and milk fortified with vitamin D are all good sources as well as vegan foods such as sprouted seeds, fortified tofu, soy milk, soy yogurt, juices, and cereals.”

LJ looked at her, “I’m getting hungry.”

An hour later, after checking into the hotel, LJ asked, “are you hungry? There’s a restaurant close by that has a great reputation for the freshest fish.”

“Yes, I am, and now that we are focusing on increasing our vitamin D through the food, we eat I’m going to order a guacamole salad and fish because avocado’s healthy fat helps boost vitamin D absorption.”

“It sounds like getting outside in the sun with sunscreen, eating vitamin D-rich foods and healthy fats like those in egg yolks, nuts, seeds, and avocados that improve absorption are all healthy ways to increase our vitamin D levels,” LJ mused. “That’s alright.”

Annie and LJ are a fictional couple. Their storyline promotes healthy eating and earth-friendly practices.