Did you know? You can reduce your risk of cancer with sunlight exposure?

It’s now a proven fact! With sun exposure, UVB radiation from the sun converts cholesterol in your body into vitamin D (cholecalciferol). The mechanisms by which vitamin D reduces the risk of cancer are fairly well understood. They include enhancing calcium absorption (in the case of colorectal cancer) , inducing cell differentiation, increasing cancer cell death, reducing metastasis and proliferation, and reducing angiogenesis (blood vessel formation which usually accompanies the growth of malignant tissue). And this finding pertains to the prevention of 16 types of cancer! ….primarily epithelial (pertaining to the surface) cancers of the digestive and reproductive systems, including breast, colon, endometrial, esophageal and ovarian cancers. In fact, an inverse association between serum vitamin D and the risk of colorectal and breast cancers has been established. The evidence is very clear that the farther away from the equator you live, the higher your risk of dying from cancer becomes. Additionally, inadequate levels of UVB exposure are linked to another 10 types of cancer including bladder, gallbladder, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, rectal and renal.

So why are we scared to death of spending time in the sun—-our source of UVB radiation and therefore Vitamin D? Why are we shielding ourselves from something that can prevent an estimated 250,000 cases of colorectal cancer and 350,000 cases of breast cancer worldwide, especially in countries north of the equator? Well, of course the medical “experts” and the media bombard us about the “dangers” of the sun. This is one of the most inaccurate myths that persist among most Americans…. and unfortunately, this myth has contributed to massive amounts of disease and illness in our society because we ALL need some exposure to beneficial ultraviolet rays (UVB) every day to help achieve optimal wellness and support youthful-looking skin. You can create as much as 20,000 units of vitamin D per day if you have enough of your uncovered skin exposed to the sun. The beauty of getting your vitamin D from healthy exposures to sunshine is that your body has this built-in feedback loop that prevents you from overdosing on it.

Can sun exposure cause skin cancer? Absolutely. UVA exposure has been linked to melanoma and aging and wrinkling of the skin. But remember, its the UVB rays that help your body make Vitamin D. This is why APPROPRIATE amounts of sunlight actually PREVENT cancer. But we must exercise caution. Overexposure to UVB and UVA rays cause sunburn and skin damage. UVA rays specifically can cause cancer and aging of the skin. At the beginning of the season, go out gradually and limit your exposure to perhaps as little as 10 minutes a day. Progressively increase your time in the sun so that in a few weeks, you will be able to have normal sun exposure with little risk of skin cancer. Remember to never get burned, that is the key. What about sunscreens? Many of the chemicals used as filtering agents are extremely toxic, and Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), which is present in 90 per cent of sunscreen brands, actually undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to sunlight, which causes it to turn extremely toxic. Other common sunscreen ingredients have been found to easlily penetrate nto your blood stream, including:

• 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone
• 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate
• 2-ethylhexylsalicylate (octylsalicylate)
• salicylic acid 3,3,5-trimethcyclohexyl ester (homosalate)

There are a couple of very important considerations you need to know about when selecting sunscreen. First of all, many of the sun lotions on the market do not screen for UVA. It’s very important to make sure the sunscreen you select screens for UVA, otherwise you’re only screening for UVB, which effectively stops your production of vitamin D, while still increasing your cancer risk! This may account for the fact that the incidence of melanoma has increased even while the use of sunscreen has increased. Most sunscreens do not protect against UVA rays……the rays that cause skin cancer. They instead, filter out the beneficial UVB rays and give everyone a false sense of security that makes us stay in the sun longer.

Once you’ve had enough or you want to limit your exposure, the best way to do so is by wearing a long sleeved shirt, pants and hat, or stay in the shade.

If you must use a sunscreen there are a couple of good ones that are free of toxic chemicals and are made by the leader in organic, chemical free skincare….Aubrey Organics. They are:

Active Full Spectrum Sunblock SPF 25 provides UVA and UVB ray protection with titaniumdioxide, a mineral that actually deflects burning rays off your skin, and PABA ester. Both ingredients are the most natural sunblock agents allowed in sunscreen products. It’s also made with shea butter, white camellia oil and other emollients to keep skin soft and supple for hours. Those of you with dry or mature skin will be amazed by this sunblock’s long-lasting hydrating power.

· Green Tea Sunblock for Children SPF 25 is the best natural sun protection for children of all ages. This exclusive herbal formula provides full spectrum protection with PABA ester and a natural, sun-reflecting mineral. Plus it contains antioxidant-rich Matcha green tea to prevent free radical damage. Not recommended for infants under six months of age.

Additionally, consuming many whole vegetables will increase antioxidant levels in the body, which will provide protection against any sun-induced radiation damage.

Of course, those of us living in the northern hemisphere will need some form of Vitamin D supplementation, even though the body does store some calcidiol (the storage form of Vitamin D) in the blood and fat for later use. Vitamin D is not found in very many foods, as food was not the intended source for our bodies anyway…..sunshine was. But since modern living causes us to spend less time with our skin exposed to the sun, supplementation may be necessary. Cod liver oil is a major dietary source, as are fatty fish such as salmon. Fortified foods especially milk and cereals do provide some Vitamin D but not in any significant amounts. If purchasing supplements, make sure the vitamin D you buy is pure cholecalciferol. Don’t buy a preparation with vitamin A added. Just plain cholecalciferol. Vitamin D overdose and toxicity is possible, but at very high dosages. Avoid supplemental dosages above 2000 IU per day.

In addition to cancer, Vitamin D has been shown to prevent and treat other health conditions. Among them are heart disease, diabetes, IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple schlerosis and osteoporosis, infertility and PMS. Ah, yes….sunshine….another of nature’s bountiful gifts, just there for the taking! How lucky can we get?

~ by liquidmind on June 7, 2008.