Here’s a synopsis of an article from the Providence Journal:
Let the Sun Shine In
With constant warnings about wearing sunscreen to protect against skin cancer, Americans are being hurt in an unexpected area: nutrition.
60% of us (180 million Americans) aren’t getting enough vitamin D, say The Centers for Disesase Control and Prevention.
It’s virtually impossible to get enough vitamin D, necessary for building strong bones and maintaining a healthy immune system, from diet alone. New research indicates that the sunshine vitamin plays a vital role in the prevention of many deadly illnesses, including multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, schizophrenia and heart disease. Health officials estimate that as many as 47,000 cancer deaths could be prevented each year in America if adequate vitamin D levels were attained.
Check out the entire article for a fascinating perspective of the pros and cons of using sunscreen as it blocks vitamin D absorption.
Related posts:
- Vitamin D: The wonder drug? What can reduce rates of cancer, diabetes, and auto-immune diseases...
- Vitamin D, Multiple Sclerosis, and Walk MS promo video MidChix, a wonderful new online community of women between 40...
- Sunshine and Sunglasses My friend Susan Mead, a Master Herbalist with a wonderful...
- Prenatal Vitamin D levels linked to Autism? Research has shown that many autistic children are born in...
- Many kids do not need vitamin supplements Many children do not need the vitamin supplements we push...
i always take calcium supplements to my bones strong~::
[...] though he’s not the only one to be on the Vitamin D bandwagon lately. While I knew that vitamin D played a big role in multiple sclerosis by controlling inflammation, I had no idea of its cancer-protecting role. Here’s what Dr. Oz [...]
Czes,
No, the article doesn’t say that sunshine alone with keep you healthy, only that vitamin D is necessary for complete absorption of many other nutrients. It was really just a warning against using sunscreen all the time!
And you’re right, most sunscreens offer chemical barriers to the UV rays, which are not completely effective as well as being bad for your skin. For our family, we look for natural sunscreens with the physical UV barriers of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. For my kids, my favorite is California Baby sunscreen.
Thanks for reading!
Elizabeth
So, enough sunshine will protect anybody from multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, schizophrenia and heart disease and cancer.
Fantastic. But is it true?
If it would so simple. I presently live in sunny New Zealand, and MS here is very popular.
BTW, sunscreen itself usually contains lots of nasty chemicals and aluminum, so it creates lots of health problems.