Guest guest Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 http://www.mercola.com/2005/jul/5/sunshine_vitamin_d.htm Harvard Professor Defends Sunshine, Vitamin D Link Evidence that supports vitamin D's profound health benefits continues to mount: Unprotected sun exposure helps the body produce the vitamin D it needs to keep bones healthy and ward off cancers and other ailments. For example: * According to one study, researchers found that men with high exposure to the sun had half the risk of prostate cancer than those with low sun exposure. * Another study found that high levels of vitamin D and calcium appeared to reduce women's risk of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Dr. Giovannucci's Earlier Vitamin D Statements The above studies' findings should come as no surprise to Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Edward Giovannucci who, in an April speech to the American Association for Cancer Research, spoke out about the proven link between sun exposure and vitamin D production. While acknowledging the dangers of the sun-related skin cancer melanoma that killed some 8,000 Americans last year, Giovannucci convincingly argued staying away from the sun--and preventing the body from making enough vitamin D on its own--may add as much as 70 more cancer deaths per 100,000 people each year. Further, during his speech Giovannucci challenged anyone to find an area or nutrient or any other factor that held such consistent anticancer benefits as vitamin D. Considering the evidence, it's doubtful anyone took that challenge. Los Angeles Times June 20, 2005 (Registration Required) Dr. Mercola's Comment: Optimizing your sun exposure and levels of vitamin D may, indeed, be one of the most important physical steps you can take in support of your long-term health. When getting your regular doses of sunshine to receive vitamin D, it is important to remember this crucial point: If you use the sun for some vitamin D, you really don't have to worry about measuring your vitamin D levels, as sunlight will actually destroy excess vitamin D. It is very difficult to overdose on vitamin D from sun exposure. If you are exercising in the sun like I do and sweat quite a bit, please understand that the vitamin D is oil-soluble. So, you won't want to shower immediately after being in the sun as the vitamin D is formed in your skin and can be easily washed off. So cool down after you work out and let your body absorb the vitamin D you produce in your skin after sun exposure. Be sure and get outside regularly--that is the key. Take some time for yourself and work up to the point where you get one hour of sun on your skin every day it is possible. I can assure you that I consider this an essential part of my personal Total Health Program and seek to get in to work around 4-5 a.m. so I can leave early and read out in the sunshine. Please remember that, in nearly every circumstance, getting your vitamin D by exposing your body to UV light from the sun is the best option. When doing so, however, there are two extremely important points to remember: 1. Stay away from tanning beds, as they increase your risk of cancer. 2. Avoid staying in the sun long enough to burn your skin. At the beginning of the season, limit your exposure to perhaps as little as five to 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. Related Articles: The Secret of Vitamin D Production The Secret Benefits of Vitamin D Measuring Your Vitamin D Levels: Your Most Important Blood Test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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