By Dr. Joseph Mercola
     with Rachael Droege

"Your overall well-being depends in part on developing an appropriate relationship with the sun," says Michael Holick, M.D., PhD, one of the world's foremost authorities on vitamin D and a full Professor of medicine, dermatology, biophysics and physiology at the Boston University School of Medicine. He is also the author of the first book about vitamin D that is written for the general public, "The UV Advantage." This book is an incredibly important read for anyone interested in preventing numerous health problems and bettering their health, but is even more essential for those who follow the "experts’" recommendations to stay out of the sun.

According to Dr. Holick, "The notion that we have to protect ourselves from the sun all the time is misguided and unhealthy." And, people who don’t get enough sun exposure are at the greatest risk of being deficient in vitamin D. Dr. Holick gives some ominous warnings that Americans’ irrational fear of the sun is causing thousands upon thousands of premature deaths each year. He supports his warnings with clear-cut evidence from numerous epidemiological studies.

For instance, just a few study findings show that:

• 27,500 American women die prematurely every year from breast cancer caused by vitamin D deficiency, and according to Dr. Holick’s calculations 55 American women die prematurely every year from breast cancer caused by underexposure to sunlight for every one woman who dies prematurely from overexposure to sunlight (non-melanoma skin cancer).

• 37,000 men die prematurely each year from prostate cancer, and this means that 55 to 60 men may die prematurely from underexposure to sunlight for every one that dies prematurely due to overexposure.

• You are three times less likely to die of colon cancer if you have healthy levels of vitamin D (20 ng/ml or more).

For those of you who want a clear explanation of how the sunlight plays an integral role in your health by allowing your body to produce the important nutrient vitamin D, which many Americans are deficient in, you will not want to miss "The UV Advantage."

Here are just a few of the things you will learn:

• Why you need sunlight, and how you got conned into thinking it was bad for you
• Why the statement "sunlight causes cancer" is overstated
• How to harness the sun for your health
• How to avoid wrinkles and other skin problems and still get the sun’s benefits
• The good news about the healing power of the sun
• How sunlight affects your psychological health and sleep patterns
• Sources of vitamin D including diet, supplements and artificial sunlight
• Learning to use sunshine as good medicine in everyday life

You will also gain an understanding of why vitamin D is so important, and how optimizing your levels through sun exposure can prevent diseases such as:

• Colon, breast, prostate and ovarian cancers
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Type 1 diabetes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Depression
• Osteoporosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

"The UV Advantage" also offers tips on everything from how to look for skin cancer to how to minimize wrinkles to a guide for indoor tanning. If it comes as a surprise to you that sunlight is a necessary and beneficial part of life, or even if you are familiar with the concept but not sure how much sunlight is best, I highly suggest that you take the time to read The UV Advantage for yourself. As Dr. Holick says, "You, too, can learn to use sunlight for health."

Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Dr. Holick in an upcoming newsletter!

Sun Protects Against Cancer

Why You Need to Have Your Vitamin D Level Tested Now

RDAs of Vitamin D Far Too Low

Learn Why the Myth of the Sun Causing Skin Cancer Can Hurt Your Health

Sun Exposure Decreases Risk of MS

Let the Sun Shine In (Especially When Pregnant)