I have seen a lot of reels on Instagram lately relating to this topic. It seems there is a bit of an awakening and we are starting to ask questions instead of just believing all the misinformation we are sold. The sun provides life to all life on planet earth, so why do we choose to block it out by smearing sunscreen all over ourselves? This not only blocks all the goodness from the sun, it also gradually poisons us. Our skin is our largest organ, and it absorbs all the chemicals we apply to it.
Our bodies require sunlight to create Vitamin D, an essential hormone that regulates cell growth and helps prevent a number of illnesses, cancer being one of them. The belief that the sun causes skin cancer is a fear tactic created by the pharmaceutical industry to boost profits. The more we block the sun, the more we need their products. The amount of Vitamin D we require is also a contentious topic, many believing the RDA, Recommended Daily Allowance, being far too low. We cannot get the amount we need from our diet, therefore we need to expose our skin, and during the winter months it is a good idea to use a supplement as well.
Over exposure to the sun is dangerous, and the fairer our skin the more careful we must be. There are two types of cancer typically associated with over exposure to the sun, basal cell carcinoma, which is easily treatable, and malignant melanoma. The strange thing is that there is no scientific evidence to prove these claims. If we eat a healthy diet, free of sugar and processed foods we can extend the length of time we can be exposed to the sun, thus improving our overall health.
Personally I spend a lot more time in the sun than most people, and I can’t remember the last time I used sunscreen. If I go to the beach, which is as often as I can, and I know I’m going to be there for an extended period of time I take an umbrella, and I try not to be in the direct sun at midday. It’s taken me a while to understand my limits, and there have been times I have noticed a slight sensitivity to my skin after a lot of exposure, but I have not peeled like I did in my youth.
I urge you to do your own research, the book below is a great place to start. And I leave you with something to ponder. What would happen to the pharmaceutical industry if we all started taking responsibility for our own health?
The Vitamin D Solution – Dr. Michael Holick
