GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute

06/01/2026

☀️ As our 11th Annual Sunshine Month comes to a close, we want to say a sincere thank you to everyone who shared their sunshine stories with us. 💛

From time spent gardening, working outdoors, and soaking up midday sun, to personal vitamin D and wellness journeys, your experiences brought this year’s Sunshine Month to life.

Thank you for opening up, inspiring others, and helping shine a light on the many ways sunshine can support health and well-being.

Here’s to carrying the spirit of Sunshine Month forward, one sunny moment at a time. 🌞

06/01/2026

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this year’s Sunshine Month! 💛

Thank you for sharing your sunshine stories, attending our webinars, spreading awareness with friends, family, and colleagues, and discovering how sunshine and vitamin D can support whole-body health.

Your support, curiosity, and participation help advance awareness about the many benefits of sunlight, vitamin D, and beyond. Together, we are building a more informed and healthier community. 🌞

✨ Stay tuned, we’ll be announcing our Giveaway Winner later this week!

Missed some of this month’s highlights? Don’t worry, we’ll be sharing a quick recap soon!
Learn more: https://buff.ly/4qqee0f?

05/30/2026

A gentle introduction to something bigger…

We often think of health as something complicated, but many of the most important factors are surprisingly simple: sunlight, nutrition, movement, and consistency.
In May, we’ll be focusing on sunlight and its connection to health, sharing short insights to help you reflect on your daily routines in a simple and practical way. ☀️

Then in June, we’ll begin a 30-day Vitamin D awareness initiative designed to bring clarity to these everyday foundations of health.

Because lasting change doesn’t start with intensity, it starts with awareness.
We’re glad you’re here.

Learn more: https://checkyourd.org/

05/30/2026

☀️ Sunshine Month Stories: Real People, Real Results ☀️

This Sunshine Month, we're celebrating members of our community who have embraced safe sun exposure and vitamin D optimization as part of their wellness journey.

🌞 Denise from Florida has practiced safe sunning for over a decade, using tools like the DMinder app to maximize midday sun exposure. By listening to her body, prioritizing sun-smart habits, and maintaining healthy vitamin D levels, she enjoys the benefits of sunshine without burning.

🌞 Victoria has relied on GrassrootsHealth resources since 2020 to guide her sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplementation. By aiming for optimal vitamin D levels and spending time outdoors regularly, she reports experiencing only two mild colds in the past six years.

🌞 Marcia's story is especially inspiring. After experiencing significant sunburns in her youth and later having a melanoma removed, she now takes a balanced approach to sun exposure while maintaining vitamin D levels around 70–80 ng/mL. Twelve years cancer-free, she continues to enjoy kayaking, hiking, and time in nature while prioritizing her health.

Every journey is unique, but these stories share a common theme: informed choices, balanced sun exposure, and a commitment to maintaining healthy vitamin D levels.

How has sunshine impacted your health and well-being? We'd love to hear your story below! ☀️💛 Learn more: https://www.grassrootshealth.net/advancing-awareness-on-the-full-benefits-of-sunlight-vitamin-d-beyond/?

05/29/2026

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Marc Sorenson, EdD, a passionate advocate for sunlight, vitamin D, and public health whose work inspired countless people around the world. ☀️

Dr. Sorenson dedicated his life to educating others on the importance of sunlight and its profound impact on human health. His voice, research, and advocacy have left a lasting mark on the wellness and vitamin D community, and his contributions will continue to inspire generations to come.

We invite you to read the heartfelt tributes shared in his honor and, if you knew Dr. Sorenson personally or were impacted by his work, we welcome you to submit your own tribute as well.

Read more here:
https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/tribute-to-the-late-marc-sorenson-edd/

With gratitude and remembrance,
The GrassrootsHealth Community 💛

Honoring the life and legacy of one of the most passionate and influential advocates for sensible sun exposure and vitamin D education Key Points Dr. Marc Sorenson’s lifelong work helped transform the conversation surrounding sunlight, vitamin D, and human health. Tributes from colleagues, friends...

05/29/2026

A new randomized controlled trial adds an important layer to the conversation around sunlight, sunscreen, skin cancer, and vitamin D.

The study confirmed that regular sunscreen use significantly increased the risk of vitamin D deficiency, highlighting the need for a more balanced discussion around sun exposure and health.

Key findings from the research and reviewed studies include:

▪️ Intermittent, intense sun exposure that leads to sunburn can increase skin cancer risk
▪️ Regular, moderate, non-burning sunshine exposure has been associated with LOWER skin cancer risk
▪️ Sensible sun exposure activates natural repair mechanisms in the skin, including DNA repair enzymes and local vitamin D production
▪️ Vitamin D produced in the skin may help protect against cancer through roles in cell differentiation, oxidative stress regulation, and immune function
▪️ Higher vitamin D levels and sensible sun exposure have been associated with lower melanoma incidence and mortality, smaller tumor size, and improved treatment response

The relationship between sunshine and skin health is far more nuanced than “avoid the sun.”

Read more: https://buff.ly/eSe6ZUS

A Comprehensive Strategy for Safe, Intelligent Sunlight Exposure Practical tips and skin-nourishing nutrients to help implement intelligent sunshine exposure into your regular routine Key Points The goal... Read more

05/28/2026

☀️ Did you know? Skin color affects how much sun exposure is needed to make vitamin D.

People with darker skin have more melanin, the pigment that helps protect against UV damage and skin cancer. But melanin also acts like a natural sunscreen, reducing the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D from UVB sunlight.

According to Dr. Michael Holick:

🔸 A minimal erythema dose (MED) is the amount of sun exposure that causes slight pinkness of the skin about 24 hours later.
🔸 Whole-body exposure to 1 MED can produce the equivalent of approximately 15,000–20,000 IU of vitamin D₃ in a healthy adult.
🔸 More melanin means more UVB exposure time is needed to make the same amount of vitamin D.
🔸 Traditional hunter-gatherer populations in Africa with regular sun exposure often maintain 25(OH)D levels around 40–50 ng/ml.

Understanding the relationship between skin color, sunlight, and vitamin D can help support healthier, more personalized approaches to sun exposure.

🎥 Watch this interview snippet with Dr. Michael Holick and learn more:
https://buff.ly/BlJNsJM

05/27/2026

☀️ Share Your Sunshine Story ☀️

This Sunshine Month, we’re inviting our community to share their personal Sunshine Stories and celebrate the powerful connection between sunlight and health. 🌞

How do you incorporate sunlight into your daily health routine?

Whether sunshine has helped improve your mood, sleep, energy, immune health, vitamin D levels, skin health, or overall well-being, your experience could inspire someone else on their own health journey. From morning sunlight and outdoor walks to gardening, beach days, or simply spending more time outside, every story matters, big or small.

✨ Plus, when you share your story, you’ll be entered for a chance to WIN a Sunshine Month giveaway prize!

You can also support the mission by:
• Joining our newsletter list
• Participating through social media
• Purchasing a home test kit or making a donation

Share your Sunshine Story here: https://buff.ly/B0qd5bu

☀️ Let’s spread awareness about the many benefits of safe, sensible sunshine and help more people reconnect with the healing power of light.

05/27/2026

☀️To Fear or Not to Fear?
The relationship between sun exposure, sunscreen, skin cancer, and vitamin D is more complex than many of us realize.

For years, the message has often been simple: avoid the sun. But is the full picture more nuanced?

Sunlight plays an essential role in human health, including **vitamin D production**, yet questions remain about how to balance the benefits of sun exposure with the importance of protecting skin health.

In this blog, we explore the science behind:
- Sun exposure and skin cancer risk
- The role of sunscreen in skin protection
- Vitamin D and its impact on overall health
- What current research tells us about finding a healthier balance

The goal isn’t fear, it’s understanding. Because informed conversations about sunlight and health matter.

Read the full article: https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/to-fear-or-not-to-fear-the-complicated-relationship-between-skin-cancer-sunscreen-and-vitamin-d/

A new randomized controlled trial confirms a dark side to regular sunscreen use, further complicating the relationship between sun exposure, sunscreen, skin cancer, and vitamin D Key Points Two important distinctions about the relationship between sunshine exposure and skin cancer should be made: 1)...

05/26/2026

☀️ Could the season you’re born in influence future MS risk?

Previous research has found an intriguing connection between birth month and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. Individuals born in May, following a winter pregnancy, showed a higher risk of MS compared to those born in November after a summer pregnancy.

Dr. Robert Heaney linked this pattern to lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy and early infancy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining healthy vitamin D levels (40–60 ng/ml) in both mother and baby.

But newer research suggests the story may be even bigger than vitamin D alone, pointing toward the broader impact of sunlight and seasonal exposures during early development.

What role might sunshine, vitamin D, and prenatal environment play in long-term health? 🌞