Bone broth and vitamin D

I went for a blustery walk on the South Downs yesterday, and the sun shone.  For decades we have been taught to fear the sun.  Every summer, headlines warn us about UV rays.  Skincare aisles are filled with “anti-sun” messaging.  Social media often frames sunlight as something to avoid at all costs.  While overexposure absolutely carries risks, the idea that the sun itself is our enemy misses a deeper truth.  For all of human history, we have lived in rhythm with sunlight.  Our biology is built around it.  Morning light sets our circadian rhythm, helping regulate sleep, hormones, metabolism, and mood.  Natural light tells our body when to wake, when to wind down, and how to balance key systems that modern indoor living often disrupts.

One of the most powerful benefits of sunlight is its role in vitamin D production.  When our skin is exposed to UVB rays, it synthesises vitamin D which is a hormone-like nutrient essential for calcium absorption, immune resilience, muscle function, and mood regulation.  Without adequate vitamin D, bones weaken, immunity suffers, and inflammation can increase.  Strong bones aren’t built on calcium alone, they rely on a matrix of collagen and minerals.  That’s where traditional foods like bone broth come in.  Bone broth provides collagen in the form of gelatine, and trace minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus all of which support bone integrity and connective tissue strength.  Sunlight activates the processes that help you use these nutrients effectively and nutrient-dense foods provide the building blocks.  In other words, the sun and nourishing foods work together.

Without the sun, there is no life.  Plants grow because of it.  Our food exists because of it.  Our internal clocks depend on it.  Our skeletal system, often thought of as purely structural, is deeply influenced by both sunlight exposure and ancestral nutrition.  Spending hours unprotected in peak midday heat, ignoring your skin type, geography, and season can damage skin.  Moderate, intentional exposure, especially in the morning or late afternoon, supports overall health when paired with sensible protection.

I’m such a believer in high-quality bone broth.  It’s an easy, traditional way to nourish your skin, bones, joints, and gut.  Think of it as supporting your body from the inside while you respect the power of nature on the outside – order online.