Avoiding Sun Can Increase Your Risk of Cancer
The sunscreen may be doing more harm than good.
How might you be increasing your risk of cancer when avoiding the sun? The answer to this depends on a solid understanding of Vitamin D – what it is, what it does, where we get it from, and how much we need.
Why is vitamin D so important?
First of all, Vitamin D isn’t really much of a ‘vitamin’ at all. By definition, a vitamin is an organic substance essential for normal growth and activity of the body and obtained naturally from plant and animal foods. The vast majority of ‘vitamins’ can only be obtained from the food we eat, and cannot be produced by the body. Because we cannot produce most vitamins ourselves, we must rely on nutritionally dense foods, like plants and animals, to provide these essential substances.
In comparison, it is difficult to acquire healthy amounts of Vitamin D from food alone. This is OK though, because our bodies can make all the Vitamin D we need if exposed to enough sunlight. Many scientists agree that Vitamin D would be better classified as a hormone for these reasons.
What does Vitamin D do in our bodies?
Vitamin D has the power to regulate at least 3,000 of the estimated 25,000 genes in our DNA. Vitamin D is essential for proper regulation of calcium stores, providing protection from osteoporosis and subsequent bone fractures and diseases. Vitamin D plays important roles in maintaining proper blood sugar levels. Normal 0 Probably one of the most important roles of Vitamin D is the activation of processes that correct for damaged DNA in our cells. Damaged DNA that is left un-repaired can result in uncontrolled cell-growth, otherwise known as cancer. This makes Vitamin D one of the most potent cancer-fighting substances in our bodies. In fact, the research indicates that the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer and multiple sclerosis may reduce by half when Vitamin D levels are high. Additional research has demonstrated that patients diagnosed with melanoma (the more lethal variety of skin cancer) are less likely do die when they receive high levels of sun exposure compared to those who don’t. Once more, low amounts of sun exposure and use of sunscreens are associated with greater risks of skin cancer, especially the melanoma - an idea that flies in the face of conventional wisdom.
How much Vitamin D do we need and how much sun exposure is healthy?
Normal 0 Our bodies make about 10,000-20,000 IU of Vitamin D by the time our skin starts to turn the slightest shade of pink or tan (assuming that most of the skin is exposed). The more fair-skinned you are, the less time it takes for your body to make this much Vitamin D. It takes longer for those with a darker skin tone. For some, this may happen in as few as 10 minutes, while others may require an hour or more. Additional sun exposure essentially cancels additional production once your body has made this much Vitamin D. So, how do you get enough sun exposure to optimize levels of Vitamin D? Simple; your goal should be to expose the majority of your skin (ideally when the sun is brightest between 10am and 2pm) long enough to barely darken the skin without burning. Don't expose all of your skin - we don't want complaints from your neighbors.
What about the dangers of too much sun?
The problem is not all sun exposure. The problem is sunburns. Those who get sunburns increase their risk of skin cancer. However, moderate sun exposure (to increase Vitamin D levels) appears to reduce the risk of various cancers. Staying in the sunshine long enough for a little rosiness or tanning of the skin seems to be best for increasing Vitamin D production, but avoiding sunburns. Our bodies were made to benefit from being in the sun. We just need to be careful about being in the sun too long at once.
What about sunscreens?
There has been growing controversy on the subject of sunscreens. Contrary to what Americans are led to believe, there is no definitive research that has shown sunscreen prevents cancer. However, some research has indicated that sunscreen use may increase the risk of cancer. This may be due to interference with Vitamin D production, cancer-promoting chemicals in sunscreen, or staying out in the sun too long because we think we are safe. Unless you have researched the sunscreen you use, it is best to use hat, clothes, or shade to reduce your risk of burns. Learn more about sunscreens and which ones are the best and worst to use.
What about cloudy Canton Ohio & Northeast Ohio Winters?
Canton Ohio is not known as America's sunshine city. If we are not getting enough sun to produce adequate Vitamin D, we should make sure to take a good quality supplement. This is especially important when many in Canton are hibernating during the winter. The good thing is Vitamin D supplements are inexpensive. If you are not sure you are getting enough Vitamin D, a simple blood test can be performed. You may need a high dose version or a low dose version taken once per day or once per week. Ask our doctors for more information.
In a nutshell:
1. Go outside on a regular basis & get enough sunshine to make your skin a little rosy or lightly tan.
2. Avoid sunburns by wearing a hat, clothes or staying in the shade after getting enough sun.
3. Get your Vitamin D level tested, especially if you don't get much sun.
4. Ask our doctors about a Vitamin D supplement to improve your level of Vitamin D.
5. Be healthy & happy.
Why is vitamin D so important?
First of all, Vitamin D isn’t really much of a ‘vitamin’ at all. By definition, a vitamin is an organic substance essential for normal growth and activity of the body and obtained naturally from plant and animal foods. The vast majority of ‘vitamins’ can only be obtained from the food we eat, and cannot be produced by the body. Because we cannot produce most vitamins ourselves, we must rely on nutritionally dense foods, like plants and animals, to provide these essential substances.
In comparison, it is difficult to acquire healthy amounts of Vitamin D from food alone. This is OK though, because our bodies can make all the Vitamin D we need if exposed to enough sunlight. Many scientists agree that Vitamin D would be better classified as a hormone for these reasons.
What does Vitamin D do in our bodies?
Vitamin D has the power to regulate at least 3,000 of the estimated 25,000 genes in our DNA. Vitamin D is essential for proper regulation of calcium stores, providing protection from osteoporosis and subsequent bone fractures and diseases. Vitamin D plays important roles in maintaining proper blood sugar levels. Normal 0 Probably one of the most important roles of Vitamin D is the activation of processes that correct for damaged DNA in our cells. Damaged DNA that is left un-repaired can result in uncontrolled cell-growth, otherwise known as cancer. This makes Vitamin D one of the most potent cancer-fighting substances in our bodies. In fact, the research indicates that the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer and multiple sclerosis may reduce by half when Vitamin D levels are high. Additional research has demonstrated that patients diagnosed with melanoma (the more lethal variety of skin cancer) are less likely do die when they receive high levels of sun exposure compared to those who don’t. Once more, low amounts of sun exposure and use of sunscreens are associated with greater risks of skin cancer, especially the melanoma - an idea that flies in the face of conventional wisdom.
How much Vitamin D do we need and how much sun exposure is healthy?
Normal 0 Our bodies make about 10,000-20,000 IU of Vitamin D by the time our skin starts to turn the slightest shade of pink or tan (assuming that most of the skin is exposed). The more fair-skinned you are, the less time it takes for your body to make this much Vitamin D. It takes longer for those with a darker skin tone. For some, this may happen in as few as 10 minutes, while others may require an hour or more. Additional sun exposure essentially cancels additional production once your body has made this much Vitamin D. So, how do you get enough sun exposure to optimize levels of Vitamin D? Simple; your goal should be to expose the majority of your skin (ideally when the sun is brightest between 10am and 2pm) long enough to barely darken the skin without burning. Don't expose all of your skin - we don't want complaints from your neighbors.
What about the dangers of too much sun?
The problem is not all sun exposure. The problem is sunburns. Those who get sunburns increase their risk of skin cancer. However, moderate sun exposure (to increase Vitamin D levels) appears to reduce the risk of various cancers. Staying in the sunshine long enough for a little rosiness or tanning of the skin seems to be best for increasing Vitamin D production, but avoiding sunburns. Our bodies were made to benefit from being in the sun. We just need to be careful about being in the sun too long at once.
What about sunscreens?
There has been growing controversy on the subject of sunscreens. Contrary to what Americans are led to believe, there is no definitive research that has shown sunscreen prevents cancer. However, some research has indicated that sunscreen use may increase the risk of cancer. This may be due to interference with Vitamin D production, cancer-promoting chemicals in sunscreen, or staying out in the sun too long because we think we are safe. Unless you have researched the sunscreen you use, it is best to use hat, clothes, or shade to reduce your risk of burns. Learn more about sunscreens and which ones are the best and worst to use.
What about cloudy Canton Ohio & Northeast Ohio Winters?
Canton Ohio is not known as America's sunshine city. If we are not getting enough sun to produce adequate Vitamin D, we should make sure to take a good quality supplement. This is especially important when many in Canton are hibernating during the winter. The good thing is Vitamin D supplements are inexpensive. If you are not sure you are getting enough Vitamin D, a simple blood test can be performed. You may need a high dose version or a low dose version taken once per day or once per week. Ask our doctors for more information.
In a nutshell:
1. Go outside on a regular basis & get enough sunshine to make your skin a little rosy or lightly tan.
2. Avoid sunburns by wearing a hat, clothes or staying in the shade after getting enough sun.
3. Get your Vitamin D level tested, especially if you don't get much sun.
4. Ask our doctors about a Vitamin D supplement to improve your level of Vitamin D.
5. Be healthy & happy.
