The Sunlight Paradox

1. Ancient Traditions: The ancient practice of worshiping the sun holds a significant place in the religious and cultural beliefs of various civilizations throughout history. In many ancient societies, the sun was revered as a powerful deity symbolizing life, vitality, and divine energy.

Vitamin D plays a critical role in numerous bodily functions, including bone health, immune system support, and regulation of mood. It aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, contributing to the maintenance of strong and healthy bones. Moreover, emerging research suggests that vitamin D may play a significant role in preventing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, and certain types of cancers. The further you are away from the equator, where the sun is strongest, skin cancer rates are HIGHER. Referenced study here.

2. The Importance of Sunlight on your Skin: When sunlight interacts with the skin, it triggers a natural process that leads to the production of vitamin D. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays penetrate the skin, converting a precursor molecule into the active form of vitamin D. In the dermatology literature, recent studies point out that melanoma is now more common in people who use sunscreens. Why…?

Sunscreen interferes with the body’s natural mechanisms of sun protection, which have been perfected over hundreds of millions of years of life’s evolution on earth. Sunscreen has become a ubiquitous product in our quest for sun protection. While it undoubtedly helps shield the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation and reduces the risk of sunburns, it also blocks the UVB rays essential for vitamin D synthesis.

Melanin is able to transform 99.9% of absorbed sunlight into heat, and this greatly reduces the skin cancer risk. It also enhances the amount of infrared you can receive from the sun.

3. Choose sun over supplementation: Given all of this evidence for an association between serum vitamin D levels and cancer protection, it seems obvious that vitamin D supple­mentation should be protective against cancer. However, a large placebo-controlled study published in 2019 by more than fifteen authors obtained disappointing results.17 The study monitored over twenty-five thousand participants over a five-year period, restricting the study population to men over fifty years old and women over fifty-five years old but including participants from various places across the United States. In the group that received vitamin D (two thousand IU per day), supplementation did not lower the incidence of invasive cancer or of cardiovascular events, compared to the placebo group.

A study based in India is one of very few controlled studies where the researchers compared vitamin D supplementation to sunlight exposure. The study involved one hundred men who had been diagnosed with severe vitamin D deficiency.20 Half of them were prescribed supplemental vita­min D (one thousand IU/day), and the other half were advised to spend at least twenty minutes out in the sunlight every day at midday. Both groups saw an increase in their serum vitamin D levels, but, remarkably, the two approaches had opposite effects on serum cholesterol. Those exposed to sunlight saw a statistically significant drop in their total cholesterol, and those taking the supplement saw a statistically significant increase.

A three-year study compared three different doses of vitamin D—four hundred IU/day, four thousand IU/day and ten thousand IU/day—specifically looking at bone density. Surprisingly, those on the highest dosage had a statistically significantly worse outcome in terms of bone mineral density.28 I would argue that systemic sulfate deficiency drives calcium into the arteries, leaching it from the bones— and excessive vitamin D increases the rate at which this happens. Weston Price article here.

4. Conclusion: Sunlight is a powerful natural resource that offers numerous health benefits, primarily through the production of vitamin D. While responsible sun exposure is crucial, understanding the balance between sun safety and obtaining optimal vitamin D levels is equally important.

Sun exposure is important not just to the skin but also to the eyes, and, perhaps more crucially, to the structures in the brain stem behind the eyes that control circadian rhythms (pineal gland) and movement (substantia nigra).

Remember, moderation is key, and it's always wise to consult with healthcare professionals to determine the ideal approach for your specific circumstances. I believe natural sun exposure promotes overall well-being and vitality. I also think urine could be a reasonable sunscreen.

REFERENCES

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