THE POWER OF SUNSHINE AND WATER
by Mary-Ann Shearer 

RADIANT HEALTH

In 1800 Dr Charles de Lacy in his book How to Prolong Life said, ‘The life of every created being is the more perfect the more it enjoys the influence of light. Let a plant or animal be deprived of light, not withstanding every nourishment, care and cultivation, it will first lose its colour, then its strength and at last utterly decay’.

We have lived with sunlight for countless years and it has always been considered a powerful life-giving force, yet suddenly in the last few decades it has been much maligned by the medical fraternity. We are told that we must avoid the sun at all costs - shield our eyes and stay indoors - because it can cause cancer. But sunlight is very important and what we need is greater understanding about the role it plays so that we can harness its health-giving potential responsibly. 

Interestingly enough, skin cancer is on the increase in westernised countries but not so in rural communities where a more natural lifestyle is usually followed. When it comes to skin cancer, we need to look to our diet and lifestyle first and see how this impacts on our exposure to the sun.

Sunshine and Fats

It seems that eating the wrong kinds of fats is one of the prime culprits. If you eat a lot of heated, processed, carcinogenic fats (found in margarine, coffee creamers and all fried foods) your body will obviously have to try and deal with them in some way or another. The lymphatic system transports fats and wastes to and from all the cells in the body and if these carcinogenic fats get into the lymphatic system, it may well attempt to get rid of them through the skin. 

The skin is an organ of elimination and one of its prime functions is to assist the body in expelling waste and toxins. So every time you get hot and sweaty (in or out of the sun) you could be sweating out these carcinogenic fats which in turn can damage the immune cells in the skin. I believe that it is this process that causes untold damage to the skin and that can lead eventually to skin cancer developing.

But expensive chemical sun blocks are not the answer. Statistics show clearly that skin cancer is increasing in the countries where sun blocks are used routinely – these also happen to be the countries where people eat the most heated and processed fats!

Sunshine and Vitamin D

Regular exposure to sunlight (at least 20 minutes every day) can improve fat metabolism or the body’s ability to utilise fats and lower blood fat cholesterol.

Vitamin D is synthesised by the body when the skin is exposed directly to sunlight. It is produced by the action of the ultraviolet rays on a type of cholesterol that is widely distributed in the skin. It is this conversion of cholesterol to Vitamin D that lowers overall cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol is manufactured by the liver and is transported to the skin by unprocessed, unheated polyunsaturated plant fats. 

Without the right fats there will not be enough of this good cholesterol present in the skin to manufacture vitamin D. The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. It aids in the absorption of calcium, and together with a number of other vitamins, minerals and hormones, it promotes bone mineralization. Only with sufficient vitamin D can your body utilise calcium, which in turn builds healthy bones and teeth and prevents diseases like osteoporosis and dental decay.

Vitamin D also increases the output of the heart, which means more blood, more oxygen and more energy. It lowers the resting heart rate, lowers blood pressure and reduces lactic acid formation after exercise (so you are less likely to feel sore if you exercise outdoors). It also improves endurance and increases the body’s tolerance to stress.

The recommended daily allowance for vitamin D will be met by exposure to natural sunlight for at least one hour a week. Since the body has the ability to store Vitamin D, it is unnecessary to take artificial supplements. In fact, I would not advise this as vitamin D can be toxic when taken in excessive doses. Eating vitamin D enriched foods or taking supplements containing vitamin D can lead to calcium being deposited in your soft tissues and kidneys – a condition that is not easy to reverse.

Sunlight Protects Against Cancer

Insufficient exposure to ultraviolet radiation may be an important risk factor for cancer in Western Europe and North America, according to a new study published in the prominent Cancer journal. These findings contradict official advice about exposure to sunlight.

An examination of 506 regions found a close inverse correlation between cancer mortality and levels of exposure to ultraviolet B light. The body has its own built-in mechanism to harness the healing power of the sun – vitamin D is synthesized by the body in the presence of ultraviolet B and it is this vitamin that protects the body against cancer. 

The study found that there are 13 malignancies that show this inverse correlation, mostly relating to reproductive and digestive cancers. The strongest inverse correlation is with breast, colon and ovarian cancer. Other cancers also suppressed by sunlight include tumours of the bladder, uterus, oesophagus, rectum and stomach.

It appears that people who take in natural Beta carotene from fresh fruits and vegetables (rather than from supplements) have lower levels of cancer. Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant and appears to protect the skin from burning. Eating bright yellow and orange fruits and vegetables will assist the skin in coping with exposure to the sun. This does not mean that you should throw caution to the wind, however. Listen to your body and get out of the sun if you feel hot and uncomfortable.

“Epidemiological, experimental, and mechanistic data implicate omega-6 fat as stimulators and long-chain omega-3 fats as inhibitors of development and progression of a range of human cancers, including melanoma.”

Cancer Research 2000 Aug

It appears that the main cause of skin cancer is the intake of too many of the Omega 6 fatty acids and not enough Omega 3 as found in flax oil. (I recommend Millbrook flax and the Aimega blend) 

The long chain Omega 3 fats so often spoken about in research usually refers to DHA (docosahexanoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentanoic Acid) which are both derivatives made naturally in the body. Many fish oil peddlers are promoting their products as the only answer to our need for Omega 3 but EPA and DHA are just 2 of many derivatives made by the body from Omega 3 found in flax oil and besides that fish oil is extracted with heat and chemical solvents and as a result will be carcinogenic so in fact encouraging skin cancer.

Once again, use your common sense. Taking flaxseed oil regularly does not give you licence to roast!

Artificial Light

Unlike natural sunlight, artificial indoor lighting can be detrimental to your health. The sun’s ultraviolet rays specifically are beneficial to our health, and deprived of them the body chemistry is affected adversely. Ordinary artificial light in our homes and offices does not contain this spectrum, and window panes, sunglasses and spectacles with prescription lenses shield out most of the ultraviolet rays. 

Worked out in hours, you could compare spending sixteen hours in a well-lit indoor environment with spending one hour out of doors. On top of it, during those sixteen hours you are not even exposed to the full spectrum of light you need for maintaining good levels of health. There is simply no substitute for natural outdoor light - even on an overcast day you will be exposed to sufficient light to help regulate your body.

Light of the wrong wavelength (particularly pink or red) has a distinctly harmful effect on the body’s metabolism and on the endocrine system. It is implicated in poor absorption of minerals, various kinds of neuroses and even in the formation of cancer. A study conducted on elderly men in Boston indicated that after two months of indoor confinement and exposure to only artificial light (incandescent bulbs and fluorescent strip lighting), their calcium absorption was reduced by 65 per cent. 

Can you imagine what years of indoor living and working does to your body? The high levels of red and violet light found in incandescent bulbs increase melatonin production and will make you feel tired. (That’s why office workers need to rely on endless tea and coffee breaks to keep them going!) Conversely, blue-green light (found in many fluorescent bulbs) decreases melatonin production, often leading to insomnia.

The light emitted from television screens also appears to be detrimental. The results from experiments performed on rats showed that even when separated from the screen by three metres, with two dividing walls in between, the average litter dropped from eight or twelve offspring, to only one or two, with many dying. This indicates once again what a profound effect light has on the endocrine system.

Light Deprived Disorders

Avoiding natural sunlight can affect your mental and emotional health and your general quality of life too. Seasonal Affective Disorder is the name given to the condition that results when we are not exposed to sufficient sunlight. The most common symptoms of this debilitating condition are:

I noticed, during the winter months, that my baby grandson slept a lot in the day but was very restless at night. This is a typical response to insufficient natural light. A combination of overcast skies and spending most of the time indoors on rainy days results in raised melatonin levels and sleep disturbances. When we made a point of taking him for a walk outside even on overcast days, we found that he always slept better at night. 

New research has now shown that a lack of exposure to natural light is commonly the cause of sleep problems in infants. Researchers at Liverpool University monitored 55 babies aged six, nine and 12 weeks old. Light monitors were attached to cribs, and parents kept diaries of the babies’ sleep patterns. Infants who were exposed to twice as much daylight in the afternoon became better sleepers. 

The study also found that the babies who slept well at six weeks were likely to be good sleepers at 12 weeks. One researcher theorised that the high light levels encouraged early development of the biological clock, which influences healthy sleeping patterns. Babies that sleep badly can only contribute to both parents stress so sunlight looks like an easy solution, in the process you may as well get your exercise in by going for a walk.

What About Sunglasses?

One of the reasons we are so ignorant about the benefits of sunlight is that we are told continually to stay out of the sun and encouraged to wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) rays.  Some lenses have been developed to block up to 99 per cent of these important rays and wraparound lenses favoured by sportsmen ensure that the eyes are ‘protected’ from all angles. But when we wear these UV-blocking glasses, we are in fact blocking out the essential rays that help regulate the neurotransmitters that help us sleep and feel good. I’m not at all surprised that half the world seems to be on either antidepressants or sleeping tablets – in our quest for ‘cool’ we’ve lumped ourselves with sleepless nights and depression instead. 

When it comes to protecting your eyes from the glare, rather try to stay out of the midday sun or wear a hat. If you feel more comfortable driving with sunglasses or if you have to wear prescription lenses in order to drive, then do so but remove your glasses when you leave the car.

Harnessing the Power of Sunshine

To prevent a light deprived disorder, make sure that you are exposed to natural light regularly. Try to spend at least 20 to 30 minutes a day out of doors, even on overcast days. You can achieve this by exercising outdoors, by working in the garden and by eating your meals outside on the patio in good weather. 

You don’t have to be in direct sunlight for the pineal gland to benefit (although your bones and teeth will benefit enormously from sensible daily sunbathing). Sitting outside under a shady tree in the summertime will still do you a lot of good. Even overcast skies can benefit you so don’t be tempted to stay indoors on a chilly winter’s day wrap up and go for a brisk walk or a quick cycle.

When getting your daily dose of sunshine, ensure that you do not screen your eyes with sunglasses or prescription or contact lenses, as these reduce the beneficial ultraviolet rays. Ordinary window panes shields out ultraviolet rays, so if you do need to spend prolonged periods inside, open windows and doors whenever possible.

If you work under artificial light in an office environment, go for a stroll outside during your lunch and tea breaks, and don’t forget to open your window, letting the natural light shine in. Catch up on the weekends and make time to be outside.

It could be beneficial to add another spectrum of light to your working area. So if you work under neon or fluorescent light (blue rays), then stand a lamp with an ordinary bulb on your desk to introduce red rays to your workstation. Lights that come closest to full spectrum lighting are low voltage globes that have an aluminium reflector. 

The cost of converting the average office to full spectrum lighting is not high and on top of it there will be the very real benefits of increased productivity and improvements in mental and physical well-being too. However, I have found that a change in lighting is not enough for some people and that in order to sort out their problems they need to acknowledge that there is no substitute for natural outdoor light.

It is important to remember that although the sun is essential for your health and well-being, excessive exposure can be harmful and it is best to avoid sunbathing between about 11.30am and 3.00pm. If you don’t stay out of the sun at this time of day, you will most certainly damage your skin as its heat is at its most intense.

Most people would do well to get out of direct sunlight after 30 to 60 minutes. Anything longer than that, particularly on a hot day, will be harmful, contributing to degeneration of the skin and premature ageing. Particularly if your skin is very fair, only go outside in the early morning light before 9.00am or in the late afternoon after 5.00pm. If you need to be in the sun for a prolonged period due to a sports day for example, wear cool long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat (guys, that means you too and watch the neck area especially).  And don’t be shy to carry an umbrella or sunshade.

Your body has an innate intelligence, an inbuilt ability to tell you when it has had enough sun. When you start to feel hot and uncomfortable, listen to your body and get out of the sun. Don’t cool down in the water and go straight back into the sun, because that is when the damage is done.

And speaking of damage, there have been several studies that have shown that sun block creams actually contribute to skin cancer because of the chemicals they contain. (Some of these chemicals can even have a negative effect on your endocrine system.) So avoid these products and be sensible about your exposure to the sun instead. Twenty minutes to one hour in the sun on a daily basis is more than enough to maintain good health without doing any damage.

See Part Two...Water, the forgotten nutrient