I often ask myself why sun screen products are a multimillion dollar business (especially in South Africa) whilst the prevalence of skin cancer still escalates. The sun was one of the first things God made! In Genesis 1:3-5 we read: And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good… And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. In Psalm 121:6 God promises those who love Him the following: The sun shall not smite thee by day...
Could the sun then be só harmful that we need to cover ourselves from head to toes? Yes, I know the ozone layer is halfway destroyed by mankind, but should we now hide from the sun? Vitamin D3 is formed by the body in response to the action of sunlight on the skin and from food alone; this is one of a few vitamins you will struggle with to reach optimum levels. For the indoor people that leaves supplements to make up the shortfall. Although we still need to be careful, the sun is certainly not the enemy. You should be able to make a healthy level of vitamin D3 with regular sunbathing, say three times a week, with as much of your body exposed as you can for roughly 20 minutes at one go. So much for the old blanket advice to slap on sun screen the moment you step out of doors. I also want to put a question mark behind the safety of the ingredients in these products.
At the moment there is a massive drive amongst naturopaths and the health industry encouraging people to supplement with vitamin D3 daily. Some experts say it is now being more generally recognised as a wonder vitamin. Much to my surprise, my own blood test (in sunny South Africa) confirmed that I was also lacking earlier this winter. And I adore lying in the sun for hours at a time and usually start about a month before the official first day of spring although I do admit that it should be done in moderation. Maybe that’s why my skin texture is not in perfect condition anymore (whose is?) but after 50 years of regular sunbathing my health (and skin) shows no signs of cancer!
Along with taking exercise, this vitamin not only protects your bones, but it cuts your risk of heart disease, diabetes, various cancers including breast and colon, and improve your immune response. It protects against muscle weakness and is involved in regulation of the heartbeat. I had personal experience here. At first I thought it could be hormonal changes until my naturopath described vitamin D3 – and gone were the palpitations! I take 500IU (up to 1000IU per day is still acceptable) and as an added bonus it elevates my mood as well. I read that on the label and experienced the positive effect. Also on the label it states that it is anti-carcinogenic and improves immunity. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, so please take serial blood tests to maintain healthy levels.
Last but not least – I believe that taking enough anti-oxidants is the key factor to prevent cancer when you enjoy (and sometimes accidentally overdo) sunbathing.
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Anything in excess is harmful. Yes, we need sunlight for its Vitamin D which strengthens our bones and makes our skin healthy, but overexposure can also pose as a major health risk (e.g. skin cancer). Just be sure to do things properly and in moderation. Plus, there are also vitamins and supplements available in the market to supply your body’s daily nutritional needs.
ReplyDelete-Yulanda Mccargo