I hate sun cream and go out in a hat and shirt (with neck protection) if I am having a day out in this weather. I have always kept well covered because I burn easily. Sun cream is a godsend for bits that stick out - I have a tube of factor 50 in my handbag in case I get caught out (along with my spare knickers and emergency biscuit etc
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However, since my vit D levels got so low, I am doing five minutes here and there in the garden, when the shadows are short. It is plenty if you are very pale.
CLKD - the magnesium question is a bit blurry - I read somewhere that it is the lack of magnesium that causes the painful joints you get with vitamin D deficiency because the two work together. (Maybe there is some info on the vitD council website?) However, if you take vit D and increase your blood levels, it uses up the magnesium and you go back to aching again a couple of weeks later. For me it is a particular sort of ache - in the neck and hands and feet and it goes into the hips when it gets bad. I get stuck in a position and it hurts to move - when it got bad, I was going to bed as I could not sit up in the evenings and hold my head up. Last week, my feet were slightly 'pinned down' by the blanket on the bottom of the bed and when I woke in the night they were sort of fixed into position and I had to help them move - it hurt
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but the magnesium spray seemed to help and it has gone away again. It may be something else, but I have had tests for arthritis and it wasn't that. If I come up with other ideas I will go back to the doctor - they never seem to be interested once their tests have come back negative, but it still hurts just as much.
Magnesium supplements also act as a laxative (think Milk of Magnesia
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) There are some more expensive ones in H&B that are supposed to be better, but I am not going there. You should really be getting enough from your green leafy veg etc.