Dilemma Resolved

In the previous newsletter we talked about protecting the skin from the sun and dove into the pros and cons for sunscreen. And using it wisely. 

 

At the end we talked about how vitamin D deficiency has become a serious health issue here in the Western world-caused largely by overuse of sunscreen. 

 

 

For starters, its deficiency can be linked to today’s prevalence of osteoporosis. Vitamin D metabolizes with calcium in the body helping to maintain sturdy bones. It’s also a vital part of the immune system.

 

Now here’s the issue: sunshine is, by far, the most generous source of vitamin D available. However, in an attempt to avoid skin damage and skin cancer, we slather sunscreen all over our bodies which ultimately reduces the intake of vitamin D. During my lectures about vitamin D deficiency being linked to the overuse of sunscreen, I would get some blank stares. We have been thoroughly convinced via effective product marketing that we are doing something good for ourselves by wearing sunscreen any and every time we are in the sun. 

 

Reality check—living vitamin D deficient has a higher consequence than most people realize. To make up for lack of vitamin D from the sun, vitamin D supplements are often used which actually have some problems, especially for the kidneys.

 

 

The keys are moderating your time under the sun as well as the timing of your exposure to it. Indeed, it is very important to prevent over-exposure to the sun.

 

The target scenario is a short period of time out in the sun with broad skin exposure. To get your vitamin D, five to ten minutes in shorts and short sleeves is likely adequate for fair-skinned people. Or twenty minutes if you’re darker-skinned. Over time, melanin increases in the skin which is the body’s natural sun protection. 

 

The time of day that we’re getting our sun exposure is very important. From the sun we can receive both UVA and UVB radiation. It’s the UVA radiation that causes potential damage to the skin. And it’s the UVB radiation from which we get our vitamin D. In the middle of the day when the sun is highest in the sky, UVB rays we need are plentiful. But when the sun is lower on the horizon, in the morning and evening hours, the UVB rays are filtered out which reduces the creation of vitamin D on the skin. 

 

For that short period in the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak, it’s important to take advantage of direct, unscreened, unadulterated, pure sunshine. Let the sun’s nurturing rays do their job, forming vitamin D on the surface of the skin which will then be absorbed into the bloodstream. 

 

 

Vitamin D is formed both within the skin cells as well as in the oils on the surface of the skin. It can take up to two days for vitamin D in the oils on the skin to be absorbed into the body. So for vitamin D’s sake, avoid using soap on the arms and legs (assuming your arms and legs are what you primarily have exposed to the sun). Soap can literally wash the vitamin D away. Rinsing is fine. Use soap where you need it (armpits, privates, etc.). Don’t worry—you’re not going to stink if you don’t use it on your arms and legs! 

 

By the way, younger people produce more vitamin D on their skin than older people, one reason that osteoporosis generally shows up later in life. Older or younger, the key is both right timing and maximum surface area of skin exposed to the sun. Hence, my suggestion of shorts and a tank top. The benefit is real, making it unquestionably worth the small amount of time it takes. 

 

If you discover yourself to be vitamin D deficient, then why not take some solid action by dedicating time in your day to sunshine? Make it a defined part of your lifestyle. Vitamin D levels can be determined with a blood test. These levels can change dramatically over the course of just one to two months. Why not get tested at the beginning and end of the month and see if you don’t get some definitive results showing the benefits of sunshine? 

 

 

Sun protection isn’t exclusively about protection from the outside. 

 

It’s also restoration from the inside. We’re talking diet and of course hydration. 

 

Here’s what happens…

 

Sun exposure of any kind comes with a little inflammation. Not all bad…it’s the course of life. However we can definitely curb this for the sake of preserving youthful skin.

 

This is why it’s all about the ‘anti-inflammatory diet’….something I’ve talked about relentlessly because it’s what unlocks the ‘silver bullet’, that you create with a superior lifestyle. 

 

Many foods cause inflammation, most are neutral, and a few foods have massive anti-inflammatory qualities. 

 

 

Turmeric, when combined with black pepper. (Study from PUB MED) I’m definitely not intending to just sell products here. But this is what motivated the creation of Infinity Turmeric. I invite you to check it out if you haven’t before. 

 

Vitamin C (Infinity-C) with specific antioxidants for the skin is right there with turmeric.

 

Now of course you don’t want to get sunburned, but remember this: when you consider the way we’re blocking the health forming powers of vitamin D with the overuse of sunscreen, together with the way we’re compensating for our vitamin D deficiencies with man-made supplements, it’s a safe bet that life force and longevity are being compromised. 

 

The key to getting it right is understanding how it all works, strategizing sun exposure and striking a balance.

 

Yours Truly, 

 

Billy