Solar power
A study has finally come out supporting the idea that the benefits of sun exposure just may outweigh the risks.
It's hard to decide on the lesser of two evils when offered the choice between types of cancer. Should you take a chance on getting skin cancer, or would it be better to chance one of the internal cancers that can affect your colon, breast or prostate?
We've been programmed to fear getting any UVA rays that can cause melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. And with an ever-expanding hole in the ozone layer, the situation has seemed particularly dire. That's why you've been warned over and over through the media to cover yourself from head to toe while in the sun, apply liberal amounts of sunscreen—or limit exposure altogether.
Well, according to this research team, you should put the brakes on that. And I agree.
Avoiding exposure could be causing a whole population of people some serious health issues—particularly those in northern latitudes. If you live up north, I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that you aren't getting enough sunlight, especially in the winter months.
The researchers created a model in order to calculate how much vitamin D you're able to create based on how far you live from the Equator. They also looked at how often cancers occur depending on your latitude, and the likelihood of survival of the cancer based on the same.
And there's definitely a correlation between where you live and how much vitamin D you produce. Those who live closest to the Equator produce more vitamin D. For example, those from Australia produce 3.4 times more than the folks living in England, and 4.8 times more than someone living in a Nordic region.
Northern latitude folks are also at the greatest risk for internal cancers and suffer lower survival rates from those cancers than their southern-latitude counterparts.
The sun is without a doubt the best source of vitamin D. I recommend you take a "sun bath" three times per week, exposing your bare face and arms for about 20 to 30 minutes without sunscreen. If you're staying out longer and don't want to burn, you can apply sunscreen after you get your dose of vitamin D. And don't worry about overdosing on vitamin D from the sun; your body has a built-in protective mechanism that degrades excess vitamin D back into its precursor, building-block forms.
Why is it so crucial to get adequate vitamin D? It supports healthy bone and mood, to start with. It also strengthens muscles, making you less liable to fall. And last but not least, it protects you against both infection and these various cancers. I think that's reason enough to ensure you're getting plenty of it.
