The Sunlight Controversy

Study sheds "light" on the need for vitamin D and sunlight exposure.

In society today, the sun, or more specifically UVB rays, are thought to be the main cause of skin cancers. However, it also is the main source of vitamin D for humans.

The following is a portion of the abstract from the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences: Addressing the health benefits and risks, involving vitamin D or skin cancer, of increased sun exposure. PNAS, Jan 2008; 105: 668 - 673.

Because vitamin D protects against internal cancers and a number of other diseases, a paradox exists: Will increased sun exposure lead to net health benefits or risks?

We calculated the relative yield of vitamin D photosynthesis as a function of latitude with a radiative transfer model and cylinder geometry for the human skin surface. The annual yield of vitamin D is 3.4 and 4.8 times larger below the equator than in the U.K. and Scandinavia, respectively. In populations with similar skin types, there are clear latitude gradients of all major forms of skin cancer, indicating a north–south gradient in real sun exposure. Surprisingly, the incidence rates of major internal cancers also increase from north to south. However, the survival prognosis also improves significantly from north to south. Reasons for these findings are discussed in view of the role of vitamin D. In Norway, melanoma rates increased by a factor of 6 from 1960 to 1990, while the prognosis improved in the same period. After 1990, melanoma rates have remained constant or even decreased in age groups <50>These data, together with those for internal cancers and the beneficial effects of an optimal vitamin D status, indicate that increased sun exposure may lead to improved cancer prognosis and, possibly, give more positive than adverse health effects.

Dr. Zach's Comments:

• The message of this article flies in the face of what western medicine and media are telling you. They have been telling you to hide from the sun at all times because the sun is a deadly monster waiting to make you it's next skin cancer victim.



• However, this study (and many more for that matter) is telling quite another story. According to the research, not only did populations exposed to more sunlight (closer to the equator) have a reduced rate of skin cancer, but they also had a reduced rate of other types of internal cancers.



• Why do people with more annual sun exposure get less cancer? Because sunlight exposure to your skin creates vitamin D, and vitamin D is a major player in your body's ability to maintain health. If your vitamin D levels are below optimum (and all of ours are in America), you are setting the stage for cancer and other diseases caused by a lack of adequate immune function.



• Dr. Zach, are you actually suggesting that the sun is good for me and does not cause skin cancer? Yes, I am saying the sun is good for you and is not the major player in skin cancer you're lead to believe it is. Let me explain:



• First, the sun is needed by every living thing to sustain life on our planet, and without it everything would die. So, really, how can the sun be that dangerous. Every other living thing spends its entire life outdoors. Only we humans suffer from exposure to it. The reason is this: It's not the sun causing your skin cancer, it's the sun reacting to the toxic chemicals we place in our bodies and on our skin that caused skin cancer!! These chemicals are in your soaps, shampoos, hair products, make-up, deodorant, lotions, cleaning products, etc.



• Second, sunlight exposure is the primary source of vitamin D in your body, and vitamin D is absolutely necessary for you to maintain good health. If your creator designed this pathway (sunlight exposure) to create optimal levels of a vital nutrient in your body, do you really think He would make the same process harmful?



• Now, does this mean there is no risk to sunlight exposure? Absolutely NOT. Sunburn has been shown to increase your risk of skin cancer dramatically because, like many things in life, too much of a good thing can be damaging (even too much water can kill you). Sunburn is an inflammatory process caused by overexposure to ill prepared tissue. Obviously, we in the northern US have an increased risk of sunburn each spring after a long winter of no sunlight exposure to our skin.



• So, what do you need to know to maximize you vitamin D levels and minimize risk of sunburn and cancer?



• Get moderate amounts of sun exposure for short periods to condition your skin early and often in the spring and summer. As you build a resistance to burning (a tan) and the summer sun gets more intense, shield areas that receive the most direct exposure (forehead and shoulders). And yes, you need a majority (over 50%) of your body exposed. Just your forearms isn't going to give you enough vitamin D.



• Minimize sunscreen use and use a physical block. Not only does sunscreen prevent vitamin D synthesis, but the chemicals in it may be a cause of cancer too. The sunscreen industry is terribly under-regulated, and little long term effects are known about chemical sunscreens. If you're going to use sunscreen, use one with the active ingredient titanium or zinc.



• Eat your seasonal foods. It's not coincidence that your creator gives you foods in season that aid in you maintaining your health. What's plentiful in late spring and early summer? Berries loaded with antioxidants. The amount of antioxidants that you have in your skin plays a major role in your development of sunburn because antioxidants fight inflammation. The more antioxidants you take in, the lower your risk of sunburn. Foods containing effective antioxidants to boost your “internal sunscreen” include whole fresh vegetables and fruits such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries. In early spring foods like mushrooms, asparagus, and dandelion are strong detoxifiers to remove the toxins from your body.
  Vitamins A and C are also vital as your cells use these vitamins to regulate both light absorption and protection against overexposure.