Sunbathing is an art and it is intimately linked with the science behind it. The question is, what does the science say? Is sunbathing healthy or not? Is sunscreen the best protection or are there other ways?
We are born to live in the sun and reap its many benefits. This star, without which life on our planet would be impossible, has been wrongly accused of causing melanoma and other types of skin cancer.
“The real culprit for the majority of cases of melanoma has nothing to do with the sun and everything to do with your plate”, says Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, pioneer in nutritional medicine.
There is a big gap between what science shows us and the circulating rumors.
The rumor that prevails in the mind of the public is that the sun causes skin cancer. And what is the natural conclusion? You need to slather yourself with sunscreen.
But is this really the answer to avoiding skin cancer?
Recent studies have shown that there is a significant correlation between using sunscreen and skin cancer.
Does this mean that we do not need sunscreen at all?
New research seems to say that exposing yourself to the sun is not the cause of skin cancer, be it melanoma or other forms of cancer.
A Lancet study has shown that people who work indoors have double the incidence of melanoma compared to people who work outdoors.
Working under artificial light puts you at greater risk!
It has been shown that exposing yourself appropriately to the sun reduces the risk of skin cancer.
This is what a world sun and vitamin D expert, Dr. Michael Holick, PhD and MD has to say:
“People who get regular, moderate sun exposure are less likely to get a malignant melanoma than those who don’t. And don’t forget about all the research backing sunlight’s effect on a multitude of common illnesses and diseases, including internal cancers. ”
The benefits of the sun are not only due to vitamin D. The sun’s light with its spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared has beneficial effects on the various systems of the body.
Human and animal studies have shown some of the following benefits of sunlight:
Arteries don’t clog up, cholesterol and triglyceride levels can decrease significantly, testosterone can increase, blood sugar can be affected in the right way, your immune system gets strengthened, the body is more resistant to infections and tolerance to stress is enhanced.
And there is more: sunbathing can lessen your cancer risk, increase muscle strength, increase energy levels, fight depression, lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health and build bone mass.
You might wonder what you can do to benefit from the healing properties of the sun while avoiding its negative impact on aging like skin damage such as wrinkles, brown spots, and lax skin due to photoaging.
Food Is Your Best Ally
The best way to be friends with the sun, is to eat in a way that is going to support you when you soak in the sun’s goodness.
Dr. Auguste Rollier, the father of heliotherapy used the sun to heal. In the beginning of the 20th century he treated and cured his patients in his Swiss clinics of tuberculosis and many other illnesses. He did observe though that a highly nutritious diet helped a well nourished skin react better to the sun than a nutrient deficient one.
There are certain things to avoid and others to include. It goes beyond just eating a vaguely balanced diet.
First, get your fats right. Include omega 3 fats from fish oils and flaxseed oil. Include lots of anti-oxidant rich foods like berries, green tea, green leafy vegetables and raw chocolate!
That is your first very basic step. But there is more that you can do to protect your skin when you are in the sun.
Find out more about the Art of Sunbathing in issue 16 of the Jeunessima Magazine: The exact nutrient protocol and other tips that help you to protect your skin while getting a beautiful tan.
- Is Sunbathing Healthy? - June 6, 2019