March is here. And of course, my thoughts are shifting to spring and spending more time in the sun. Hopefully, you get the opportunity to head south for some kind of “spring break” or Easter respite to boost your body’s natural production of vitamin D.
Getting some extra sun exposure in the early spring is especially critical — as it’s the time of year when most people’s vitamin D levels plummet to their lowest points, after the cumulative effects of the long winter.
Of course, dermatologists and mainstream doctors often recommend we avoid the sun at all costs, all the time — as they believe it’s a carcinogenic, skin-burning ring of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. And if we must go outside — we should always slather ourselves with toxic sunscreens.
But unlike these so-called mainstream “experts,” I actually follow the science, which — time and time again — shows the major health benefits of getting some regular sun exposure. And now, a recent study found that daily exposure to the sun can even protect you against six deadly types of cancer…
Simply step outside for major cancer prevention
The recent findings come from one segment of a major, ongoing study called the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP Diet and Health Study. It’s one of the largest, long-term studies to look at the relationship between lifestyle factors and cancer among about 450,000 older Americans.
For this recent segment, researchers determined the participants’ exposure to UV radiation based on where they live in the U.S compared to measurements taken from NASA’s Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). Then, they tracked the participants’ development of cancer over a nine-year period.
It turns out, men and women who absorbed the most UV exposure had a three percent lower overall cancer risk compared to those with the least exposure.
And when it came to specific cancer sites, men and women with the most UV exposure had a:
- 9 percent lower risk of prostate cancer
- 12 percent lower risk of bladder cancer
- 12 percent lower risk of colon cancer
- 14 percent lower risk of lung cancer
- 17 percent lower risk of kidney cancer
- 18 percent lower risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Clearly, these reductions in risk relate to higher vitamin D levels, which conclusive research links to reductions in all kinds of chronic diseases — including autoimmune disorders and heart disease.
Only melanoma skin cancer was associated with more sun exposure. But even here, other studies show that people with higher vitamin D levels who do get melanoma have smaller, less dangerous, more treatable skin cancers at the time they’re diagnosed.
Plus, even in this study, each of the reductions of risk in colon, lung, and prostate cancer — which are far more common and cause more deaths — dwarfed the effect on melanoma.
The most natural, effective way to up your stores of vitamin D
So, as we head into spring, and the sun starts to climb higher in the sky, try to spend some more time each day outside without sunscreen. It’s the perfect way to naturally increase your body’s vitamin D levels.
But make sure to start out slowly so you don’t burn. I suggest starting on the first day with just 15 minutes of sun exposure on bare skin (without sunscreen). Then, add 15 minutes each day until you reach an amount of time that both feels comfortable and works well with your daily regimen.
If you have the kind of skin pigmentation that burns more easily, perhaps start with just five minutes of sun exposure a day. You can also try avoiding the times of day when the sun is strongest (typically between 10 AM and 3 PM). And when you do go outside, wear light protection such as a hat, sunglasses, and long sleeves.
And no matter your tolerance (or lack thereof) to sunshine, it’s always important to protect your eyes by wearing UV protective sunglasses.
Most importantly, I always recommend supplementing year-round with 10,000 IU of vitamin D3. You can now find it in convenient liquid form together with the potent marine carotenoid astaxanthin.
For more ways to protect yourself from potentially damaging UV exposure, check out my Authentic Anti-Cancer Protocol. This online learning tool is filled with no-nonsense, all-natural secrets for a lifetime of prevention and survival against every kind of cancer you can imagine. Click here to learn more, or sign up today.
Source:
“Prospective study of ultraviolet radiation exposure and risk of cancer in the United States.” International Journal of Cancer 2012; 131(6):E1015-2. doi.org/10.1002/ijc.27619