To Sun Or Not To Sun?

As the lion of March morphs into the lamb of April, it’s spring time again! That means, in addition to the returning robins and budding leaves, it’s only a matter of time before the media is flooded with dermatological dogma about slathering ourselves in sunscreens and staying out of the sun. Yet we know that sun exposure is required to produce what may be the most important and multifunctional essential nutrient, the hormone like substance that is produced in the skin called Vitamin D, without which human life would not be possible. So what gives? Is the sun a demon in the sky, the source of photo-oxidation (sun related skin damage) resulting in splotches, wrinkles and cancer? Or is the solar orb our friend, emitting healing and nutritive energies that human beings require for their very existence?

Well, the answer is both. The suns photonic energy is intense, immense and, as anyone who’s had a serious sunburn knows, it can create great physical misery. Of course, excessive sun exposure is known to create many manners of skin health issues, ranging from dark spots to deadly melanomas to breakdowns in connective tissue that can cause wrinkles, laxity and other symptoms of skin aging.

On the other hand, the ultraviolet(Uv) sun energy is also known to help kill viruses, bacteria and other microbes, improve the appearance of acne blemishes and accelerate the healing of wounds and abrasions. Solar radiation can help heal lupus. In 1903, a Danish physician named Neils Finsen developed a UVB lamp that was so successful in curing the disease that it won him the Nobel prize.

Then there’s the Vitamin D connection. When the suns photons streaming earthward from 93 million miles away (!) hit the cholesterol that’s stashed away in an earthling’s skin, it triggers a chemical reaction that results in the production a deluxe form of vitamin D. This phenomenon gives solar power a wide range of benefits that can be attributed to what is known as the sunshine vitamin. Via this Vitamin D connection, generous amounts of sun exposure have been associated with decreased rates of colon cancer, breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, rickets and psoriasis.

Sunlight provides other benefits too, especially for the cardiovascular system. Research published in the January 14, 2014 edition of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology showed that it can help lower blood pressure and according to MIT research scientist, Dr. Stephanie Seneff it can help lower LDL cholesterol levels too.

What’s more, a little sun can function as a mood enhancer. That’s because of the relationship between ultraviolet radiation and the brain chemical serotonin, which is associated with daylight as well as stress management and vigilance. As it turns out, sunshine upregulates the production of the daytime hormone, improving focus, concentration and our ability to handle the inevitable bumps and bruises that life delivers. Because serotonin has an appetite suppressant effect, you’ll find that that when you hang out in the sun, your desire to eat decreases, so you can drop some pounds as you as you work on your tan.

While just enough sun can be can be considered a health strategy, it’s still important to remember that you can get too much of a good thing. That's where sun protection comes in. While chemical sunscreens are best avoided, topical application of a good zinc oxide containing sun block (titanium dioxide is good too) can provide important protective benefits. Internal nutrition can also help. Consider using anti-oxidant nutrients and like Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Likewise, NAC, selenium and zinc. Also, make sure you’re enjoying lots of colored veggies. The red, blue, green and orange pigments enter into the blood after digestion and get deposited in the skin where they can deliver some pretty significant sun protection benefits.

EAT (AND DRINK) YOUR SUN PROTECTION

Tomatoes - Contain lycopene as well as Vitamin C for sun protection and prevention of photo oxidation.

Carrots - Source of beta carotene for skin as well as eye protection.

Mushrooms - Contain Beta Glucan which supports skin’s sun defenses.

Seaweed – Natural pigments and anti-oxidants filter solar energy.

Berries and Citrus Fruits – Contain lots of sun protective anti-oxidants as well as Vitamin C.

Nuts and Seeds – Nature’s best source of Vitamin E, the most powerful of the skin protecting fatty vitamins. Also contain zinc, the skin’s most important protective mineral.

Green Tea – Delicious beverage contains EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), one of nature’s most powerful sun protecting nutrients.

Fish and Seafood - Rich in anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids. Sulfur and selenium add extra sun protection benefits.

Turmeric – All around defensive herb especially protective against cancer as well as sun induced inflammation.

Grass-fed Butter – Provides selenium and Omega 3 fatty acids to keep skin sun safe.