Recent research has indicated that many of us are low on the very important Vitamin D. Part of this is because of the “zero tolerance” approach to sun exposure that is currently in vogue. Many of you know that our bodies convert sunshine to vitamin D but the fears of skin cancer has kept many of us either completely out of the sun or covered up with mega blocking agents to block it out.
Perhaps a balance would be a better response. Lack of sufficient vitamin D has been found to lead to increased incidence of colon cancer, breast cancer and even multiple sclerosis. In our zeal to prevent skin cancers have we unknowingly put ourselves at higher risk for other diseases?
While melanoma is still a very deadly form of skin cancer, it is less common than most of us believe. The most common forms of skin cancers are the basal cell carcinoma and the squamous cell carcinoma which are rarely deadly.
And while the Sun does provide us with vitamin D, in northern climates and in wintertime it may not be enough. Supplements may be in order in these cases.
But 10-15 minutes of daily exposure to the sun can provide us with Vitamin D which our bodies need. Besides that sunshine feels good! It can’t be all bad!
