Sun Worship or Withdrawal?

by D.M. Murdock

Little has been so important to life on earth as the sun. For thousands of years, cultures the world over have found the sun so germane to life that they have created extravagant religions around it. Sun worship has been highly pervasive.

For those of us today who see the sun as a big ball of gas, the question arises: Is the sun healthful or harmful to human health? Does exposure to the sun increase or decrease longevity? What can the study of long-lived cultures reveal to us about this controversial subject?

Many people today are aware that the sun has the ability to harm us and other lifeforms through its potent UV rays. We are encouraged to slather ourselves and our children in high SPF sunscreens and to wear protective clothing , as it is currently prevailing wisdom with apparent evidence that the sun is a major cause of skin cancer. Is this apparent carcinogenic effect factual? Has the harmful effect of the sun increased because of a degradation of the ozone layer?

Sunscreen Woes

Although this fact is not widely known, the chemicals in many sunscreens themselves have been linked to an increase in skin problems, including cancers. It seems wise to limit their use as well, or to use only organic brands. There is also the concern that sunscreen lotions produce a false sense of security, allowing the user to stay too long in the sun while believing he or she is protected. It is also advised that many sunscreens block out only UV-B rays, such that, by staying in the sun too long, the sunscreen user will increase exposure to harmful UV-A rays.

One known fact is that sun exposure is responsible for the creation of the important hormone, vitamin D. Despite its inclusion in milk, vitamin D remains deficient in the bloodstream of most Americans, especially those who live in the north. It is worthwhile using low-vitamin A cod liver oil, such as that produced by Carlson, regardless of how much sun you obtain or how much milk you drink. Vitamin D has been called a "potent cancer-fighter," and the deficiency of vitamin D that might be brought about by sunscreen could therefore implicate sunscreen as a cancer-causing agent. Dr. David Williams also implicates sunscreen as a cause of cancer in that it blocks the production of melanin, the skin's own protection against harmful rays. As concerns the possibly carcinogenic chemicals in many sunscreens, Dr. Williams says:

"Five chemicals commonly used in sunscreens have been found to behave like estrogen and stimulate tumor-growth and the spread of cancer cells."

Dr. Williams further recommends people create their own sunscreens using vitamin C powder (ascorbic acid) mixed with water or a type of cream, pointing out that vitamin C blocks out both UV-B and UV-A rays.

It should also be kept in mind that nutritional science is constantly changing and that new compounds, vitamins, minerals and other elements are being found on a regular basis. We know that sunlight is responsible not only for the production of vitamin D but also for the regulation of serotonin and melatonin by the pituitary and pineal glands, stimulated by the light through the eyes.

Sunlight is also necessary for the hypothalamus gland, located in the center of the chest and responsible for regulating important parts of the brain and bodily functions, including hunger, thirst and temperature control. Without adequate sunlight, numerous ailments can be traced to the poor functioning of the hypothalamus and other related organs and glands.

Sunlight increases health

Sunlight is in reality so important to health that it has been called a "life-supporting nutrient." In ancient times, the prescription of sunlight for ailments was called "heliotherapy," while today it is termed "phototherapy." Such a treatment now includes the use of artificially created lighting using full-spectrum light bulbs and fixtures. Concerning the importance of sunlight, Dr. Joe Mercola, who hosts the world's most popular natural-health website, remarks: "In moderation, sunlight improves immunity, prevents disease, increases intelligence, stimulates our metabolism, and boosts our energy levels."1 Dr. Mercola finds sunlight so imperative he states that "most of us suffer from 'sunlight starvation.'" He recommends "one hour of unfiltered sunlight each day." Sunlight through windows does not count. Even in sunny areas such as southern California, most people are found to be sunlight deficient, as they spend most of their time from house to car to office, receiving little sunlight. Most offices, of course, have not invested in artificial full-spectrum lighting, even though such lighting would decrease illness and absenteeism, and increase positivity, efficiency and productivity among employees. The same can be said about schools, where children sit all day long under fluorescent lights, which destroy "visual purple" (rhodopsin), leading to night blindness as well as other eye problems. Visual purple is produced from vitamin A, so children who are under non-full-spectrum fluorescent lighting should consume adequate amounts of vitamin A. Concerning standard fluorescent lighting, Andrew Weil, MD, says that it causes "fatigue, irritability, and hyperactivity, especially in schoolchildren."3

Sunlight produced either naturally or through artificial full-spectrum lighting can be used as a treatment or preventive for the following conditions:

• acne
• bone diseases
• breast cancer
• colon cancer
• colds
• diabetes
• eye strain and disease
• flus
• heart disease
• high blood pressure/hypertension
• immune system deficiency
• jet lag
• mental illness
• mood disorders
• obesity/overweight
• ovarian cancer
• pituitary gland disorders
• prostate cancer
• SAD or seasonal affective disorder
• sleep disorders
• tooth decay
• vision problems

New parents may be relieved to know that they can help regulate their newborn's sleep patterns by exposing the child's eyes and forehead to an hour of sunlight between 8 A.M. and noon every day. Sunlight filtered through the eyes and skin stimulates the regulation of the pineal and pituitary glands, which produce melatonin and serotonin, hormones responsible for proper sleeping and waking patterns. It may take several months for the particularly fussy baby to fall into a "normal" sleep pattern, with a daily routine of taking a walk in the morning sunshine or making sure the baby is exposed to artificial full-spectrum lighting, but it is well worth it, as it will help normalize the child's sleep patterns for life.

The mood enhancement associated with serotonin is at the basis of the science behind SSRI drugs ("selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors"), on the principle that increasing the serotonin in the brain will solve mood disorders. It seems to be a better idea, however, to increase the body's natural production of serotonin through the use of supplements such as tryptophan, 5-HTP and full-spectrum lighting.

Sunlight dosage dependent on individual

As is the case with just about every health issue, the amount or dosage of sunlight needed for superior health differs from person to person. Lighter-skinned individuals tend to need less sun exposure than darker-skinned people. Maverick doctor William Douglass, MD, has stated that black people who do not get enough sunlight will actually increase their rates of skin cancer. One argument he makes is that traditionally Africans receive 12 or so hours of sunlight a day and that those who no longer do are ending up in a deficiency state that leads to illness. Also, dark-skinned individuals need more sunlight than light-skinned people to produce vitamin D. Furthermore, Dr. Mercola relates that people over 50 need about twice the light that younger adults require.

Full spectrum lighting

If sunlight is hard to come by, as it is in winter or areas closer to the poles, it is good idea to use full-spectrum lighting, which provides an artificial equivalent to sunlight. Full spectrum light bulbs and lamps are fairly inexpensive, as they tend to last longer than the average light bulb. In this way, we can prevent "seasonal affective disorder" or SAD, which strikes millions of people living far away from the equator, especially during the winter months. SAD manifests itself in depression, fatigue, food cravings, irritability, low libido, overeating, oversleeping, sadness and "social withdrawal."2 Some of the better full-spectrum lighting was developed by Dr. John Ott. Dr. Mercola claims that the company Way Healthier produces the best full-spectrum bulbs today; although such lighting appears expensive, the bulbs last up to 10,000 hours and utilize 80% less energy than regular light bulbs. Full-spectrum lighting in yoru home will have the added benefit of increasing the health of your pets and plants as well.

There is no doubt that the sun can be both beneficial and harmful to life. Whether we are obtaining under- or overexposure is an individualized question depending on our location, skin type and age. As always, everything in moderation.