The Swedish Melanoma Cohort looked at the effect that smoking and sun exposure have on life expectancy. They found that those with the highest active sun exposure had a longer life expectancy. Non smokers avoiding the sun had a similar life expectancy as smokers with active sun exposure!
During the recent ECU (European Chiropractic Union) conference in Oslo, professor Johan Moan shared the results of the latest research on vitamin D and the importance of exposure to the sun.
For optimal levels of vitamin D we need half an hour of sunshine on our face and hands between 12.00 and 13.00! This means going for a walk before or after lunch, IN the sun, should provide us with enough of the sunshine vitamin.
BUT: These results were recorded during summer sun power levels with no clouds, NO SUNSCREEN and with participants of average age. Therefore, longer exposures are necessary for:
- Older people.
- Coloured people.
- Autumn, Winter and Spring.
Vitamin D is not just important for strong bones, teeth and muscles. Low vitamin D levels are also associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), type I Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s or Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
Furthermore, Vitamin D has also been shown to be anti-carcinogenic; it helps the body fight cancer in many ways. And it boosts the immune system, which could be why we get more colds in Winter than in Summer.
So, if you’re in doubt about your sun exposure, take vitamin D as a supplement on a daily basis. Take at least 1000 IU, preferably 2000 IU.
Just remember: AVOIDING THE SUN IS AS DANGEROUS AS SMOKING!