Why do you feel so good after going to the beach?
Is it the relaxation?
Is it the water?
Yes, yes, and, maybe it’s also the sun!
The skin manufactures beta endorphins, the “feel good” neuro-hormone from the sun’s rays. But that’s not all!
Dermatologists tell you to avoid the sun or slather yourself in sunscreen. This extreme advice misses the benefits of the sun.
After all, the sun gives our planet life, and we can use its power to our advantage when we know the dark and light side of sunlight.
Vitamin D
Nature cure doctors used sunshine’s many benefits, especially for curing rickets, tuberculosis, and psoriasis.
We too, can take the sun in a medicinal dose. For example, we can get Vitamin D from the sun. A lot of the benefits of the sun may be attributed to Vitamin D, as explained in another blog.
Circadian Rhythms
Sunlight regulates circadian rhythms through exposure of photoreceptors in the eye, which send their signals to the brain. Circadian rhythm regulates mood and sleep and averts seasonal affective disorder and premenstrual tension.
We need to balance our screen time, which gives us lots of blue light, with the warmer rays of sunlight. Also, to maintain a circadian rhythm, we need to stop the blue light exposure in the evening through avoiding screens, modifying the screens with a program such as f.lux, or wearing amber glasses.
Risks of Sun Exposure
Let’s shed some light on the risks of sun exposure. The main danger is sunburn.
The time-honored way to be outside and not get burnt is a hat and long clothing.
Sunscreens have many toxic ingredients, some of which are linked to allergic reactions and hormone disruption. Others release damaging free radicals, as well, their toxic ingredients build up in the body. The Environmental Working Group reports on this.
In addition, sunscreens prevent the production of our natural pigment, melanin, our natural defense to sunlight exposure. As long as we are exposed and create melanin without burning, we can safely be exposed to more of the sun.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the elephant in the room.
The relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer is convoluted.
Yes, we can get sun damage in rough patches call actinic keratosis. If untreated, it can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is superficial and appears as small lumps or sore spots that don’t heal properly. It is simple to treat when detected early.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It is usually easily diagnosed with a biopsy and fairly straightforward to treat when detected early. It hardly ever metastasizes nor is life threatening.
Research evidence is starting to favor that omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies are a more significant factor in skin cancer than sun exposure. Eating processed foods of mainly omega-6 fatty acids and trans-fatty acids makes us deficient in omega-3’s.
In addition, people get sunburned more easily and do not develop a protective tan when they are deficient in the B vitamin niacin.
Intense sun exposure without the requisite vitamins and antioxidants can lead to cancer.
Skin Cancer Deaths
Nearly all skin cancer deaths result from malignant melanomas.
Studies in the US Navy have found that the most malignant melanoma was found in people who worked indoors under artificial light, not who worked in the sun. The cancer occurred on areas of the body not exposed to light.
Another study found that long exposure to sunlight helped people prevent the development of melanoma.
It looks like medicinal sun exposure is the way to go to prevent melanoma!
Increases in Cancer
Experts have looked into the increase of cancer in the 20th century, especially melanoma.
They found that the environmental stress of artificially created electromagnetic radiation such as radio waves, TV signals, wireless technologies, and compact fluorescent lighting most likely accounts for the increase of cancer incidence.
Not sun exposure!
Medicinal Doses of the Sun
How do you plan to benefit by the rays of the sun? Do you know how much time outside is beneficial?
How are you going to favor omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants in your diet? How are you going to avoid electromagnetic stress?
How are you going to reduce blue light exposure in the evening?
How are you going to make the sun your friend in medicinal doses?
Please comment below.
