REFLECTIONS ON SUNSHINE

by Janelle Klein MSN, ARNP

What happens when seemingly valid, scientific, caring advice turns out to be dead wrong.

For the last 25 years we have been definitively told that sunshine should be avoided.  Sunscreen was promoted as that which would save us from deadly sun rays.  Mothers were terrified to take their children outside without slathering them with thick white creams. 

Then it slowly crept up on us.  We became deficient in Vitamin D.  We got depressed.  Our blood pressure soared.  Then to top it off, in about 2005 researchers started telling us that studies showed cumulative sun exposure through a person's life, correlated with an increased survival from melanoma.  Amazing!   After all these years the evidence shows that sunshine exposure reduces (not increases) cancer death rates. 

Of course that doesn't mean we should let ourselves get burned and there are some conditions that one must be judicious in keeping sun exposure minimal, but for the most part, gradually increasing your exposure to sunshine is a healthy thing to do.  It gives your body what it needs to fight cancer.  Remember, sunshine is like a friend.  You need it but don't overdo it!