When the sun shines really well for the first time in spring, as it did in February this year, people are incomprehensible. Many hold their face in the sun in the hope that the body will start producing vitamin D immediately. But are weak rays sufficient in the first few months of the year to stimulate production?

Unfortunately no. Because the human body can only produce vitamin D at a certain point. No matter how hot the winter sun can make you feel. Because although the sun is undoubtedly good for you and can make you happy even in the winter months, in Germany it is not enough to stimulate the body’s own vitamin D production. We are just at the wrong latitude for this. From mid-October to the end of March, the angle of incidence of the sun’s rays is just too flat – even at lunch time.

The reason for this is simple: the angle at which the sun’s rays hit the Earth, the longer the distance through the ozone layer. However, this means that some of the UV radiation is lost and the rays are not sufficient for vitamin D production.

As a rule of thumb, you can remember: If your shadow is longer than your body size, then unfortunately there is no significant vitamin D production. For your body to produce vitamin D through your skin, the elevation angle of the sun must be at least 42 degrees above the horizon.