The TanWall Blog

The sun scare message (so we are all on the right page) is the anti-sun message advocated by certain dermatological and skin care groups. This message characterizes sun rays as highly dangerous and to be avoided at all costs. It describes UV rays as highly carcinogenic and damaging to the skin, putting you at risk for skin cancer and premature aging whenever you come into contact with them.  

These groups will advocate wearing long sleeves, pants, and a hat whenever you go out in the sun, and to lather on sunscreen during the course of the day.

Now, it is true that UV rays in excessive amounts are certainly carcinogenic, just like many other substances and energy sources found on this earth. However, to blow these risks out of proportion and tag UV rays as dangerous in all amounts, and to go against the idea that we are a species that has been living prosperously under the sun for thousands and thousands of years seems to be a bit excessive.

More and more researchers are finding that this excessive scare message is actually showing itself to be more damaging than we previously thought.  

Overzealous avoidance of the sun has led to a new epidemic in our country: Vitamin D deficiency. We have talked about Vitamin D before. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to 16 different types of cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, athloclyrosis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, depression, and more.

There is one story where a teacher couldn’t get out of bed because she was paralyzed by body aches and depression. It was eventually found that she had a severe Vitamin D deficiency.

Another story is about a couple who were accused of abusing their child, as the child was found to have broken bones, but it was later found that the child had infantile rickets and was Vitamin D deficient.

Stories like these are emerging all over the country. What we are finding is that people are simply not getting enough sun. Vitamin D can be found in certain foods (especially fish) and supplements, but the main source of Vitamin D is sunshine.

The sun scare message has been implicated in this excessive avoidance of the sun, as well as our sedentary lifestyles and the majority of our time spent indoors.

Sunscreen prevents excessive UV damage and sunburn, but it also blocks UV absorption, depriving us of Vitamin D. All in all, we need some unprotected sunlight here and there, and could use a little indoor tanning to keep our Vitamin D levels up during the winter months.

We need to get our Vitamin D levels back to normal. Healthy Vitamin D levels translates to good health overall, so get out there and get your sun!

There is quite a buzz going on in the scientific and medical communities concerning the benefits of Vitamin D. Researchers are finding that Vitamin D can help prevent many diseases and ailments and that there is an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency going on right now in the US, possibly leading to increased risk of disease and illness.

More and more studies done by scientific, nutritional, and medical organizations across the globe are indicating the high importance of Vitamin D. These organizations cite positive facts and negative facts to support their findings.

Positive Facts

Various studies have shown that the presence of sufficient levels of Vitamin D can lower risks of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, bone deficiencies, and certain cancers.

Vitamin D serves as an activator of autoimmune T-cells that neutralize foreign antibodies in the bloodstream. Basically, having sufficient Vitamin D levels will boost your immune system and make you more resilient to the flu and colds.

Vitamin D can also help with weight loss and mood regulation, among other things.

Negative Facts

Studies have found that there is an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency in the US, accounting for a higher frequency of certain cancers, diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases in the general population.

Immune systems are believed to be affected by this deficiency as well, so that more people are more prone to colds.

Possible causes of the nation’s Vitamin D deficiency could be due to more time spent indoors, since a large portion of our Vitamin D comes from sunshine. Also, sun-scare sentiment which leads to practives such as wearing long sleeves, putting on sunscreen, and altogether staying out of the sun can be seen to be responsible for our lack of Vitamin D.

I have the facts, so how do I get my Vitamin D?

The best way to get Vitamin D is through sunshine. Specialists recommend getting 10-15 minutes a day of unblocked sunshine. This is more than enough to exceed the new proposed 1000 IUs a day of Vitamin D. You can also get Vitamin D from a tanning bed.

Vitamin D can be found in certain foods such as fish and milk.

During periods of time when we can’t get enough sunshine, or during the wintertime, it might also be prudent to take Vitamin D supplements

So now you know the facts. Vitamin D is quickly becoming an important factor in daily nutrition. Don’t let the medical/dermatological interests scare you into staying out of the sun. Get some sun every day but be sure not to overdo it. Your body will thank you with good health.