Sunscreens and Vitamin D.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon "

<victoria_dragon wrote:

>

> Chinese Traditional Medicine , " sethwai " <sethwai@> wrote:

> >

> > A physician whom I respect has said that studies are starting to

> > confirm that getting adequate vitamin D is more of a factor in poor

> > bone health than getting adequate calcium. Most people in

> > industrialized societies do not get enough vitamin D since they spend

> > most of their time indoors.

>

> Have there been any studies on sun block interfering with the body's

> ability to make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight?

>

 

The loss of bone is a function of improper balance between the

alkaline minerals and the acid minerals. When we have insuffecient

alkaline minerals to balance the excess circulating acids then the

body leaches calcium from the bones to help neutrilize these damaging

acids. The causes of this are often complicated - example - bone

function is dependent on Testosterone but in a highly acidic state of

the blood (combined with stasis) the production of Testosterone is

inhibited. This problem is made worse when there is an imbalance

between Testosterone and Estrogen. Another issue is the modern concept

that is developing that many disease processes like osteopenia and

osteoporosis are caused by infectious processes. One can read about

this subject at such sites as the Road Back Foundation's (they are

basically an organization of people who are attempting to cure

rheumatoid arthritis with long term antibiotic therapy) they will have

papers there discussing the role of cell wall defecient bacteria in

many disease processes like congestive heart failure - CFS - FMS -

most autoimmune processes - arthritis - etc. I am very receptive to

this emerging new model of disease because it is consistant with many

long term understandings in TCM and Ayurveda. The role of infections

and other heat conditions (like inflammatory processes) in all of the

diseases processes mentioned above - have been known for centuries.

 

In all of the processes related to bone Vitamin D is a major player -

it is most often much more important than calcium - as I said the

problem is not mainly a calcium defeciency - it is a problem of

improper cacium metabolism - this can be related to hormones -

infections - acid conditions - etc.

 

Many studies have been done showing the problems with sunscreens -

sunscreens are a very bad idea. Here are a couple of links where a

young researcher has wriiten on the subject - he has defined the

problems very nicely. He states that 95% of the Vit D production in

the skin is stopped by sunscreens. Just last week I saw on CNN a

report that a new study has shown that sunscreens cause cancer - not

prevent it - this is explained at the second link below. People with

bone problems should avoid sunscreens completely becuase this may not

be a primary problem but it obviously makes the problems much worse.

Dr. Mercola (www.mercola.com) is a big advocate of suffecient Vit D to

support the many vital functions that it is involved in - including

calcium metabolism.

 

http://www.newstarget.com/003069.html

 

http://www.newstarget.com/001264.html

[Guest guest]

It's interesting about the importance that medical research has placed on

vitamin D lately. I'm 56 (in menopause) & have nursed 3 babies for a total of

7 1/2 years so my 'loss' of calcium should have supposedly placed me in

jeopardy of osteoporosis. Yet my bones are very strong.

 

I've never used sunscreens (hate the greasy, sticky feel!) although I also

don't spend much time in strong sunlight due to having fair skin & blue eyes

(northern European ancestry). I need to be outside a lot but pick cloudy days

or early morning or evening for that reason. I still have probably gotten a

lot of vitamin D even under those conditions.

 

I've also taken vitamins D supplements & extra magnesium all my adult life. I

took more vitamin D than was once thought to be needed but now find that the

amount I've been taking is considered the 'new recommended' amount for

maximum benefits. Its benefits have been found not to just cover bone

metabolism but immune function & a host of other related areas. I wonder if

my extra intake may have contributed to the fact I rarely, if ever, get

infections of any sort? Only twice when I've been under *severe* stress, have

I become ill. I've also never had any menopause symptoms or PMS earlier in my

life.

 

Vitamin D is classed as a vitamin but it's not really. It behaves as a hormone

once converted in the kidneys.

<http://depts.washington.edu/bonebio/ASBMRed/hormones.html#VitD>

 

I'd like to note something I read years ago about those who prefer to get

their vitamin D from skin exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin D is formed by the action of sunlight on cholesterol in our skin. But

it's more accurate to say that it's formed ON our skin as the cholesterol is

in the oils made by our sebaceous glands that release it *onto* the surface

of our skin. With our obsession of washing frequently, especially after we've

been in the sun & become sweaty, any oils are washed off before the body has

properly absorbed the vitamin D formed. I honestly have no idea how long it

takes for the vitamin D to be absorbed so perhaps someone has info on this?

Animals covered by fur absorb the vitamin D formed on their fur (since their

skin isn't exposed) by washing themselves with their tongues, ingesting it

instead.

 

So if anyone decides to increase their vitamin D intake using sunlight, I'd

suggest not washing the oils off your skin till a few hours or more later to

ensure you've absorbed your a proper amount.

 

Judy