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Dr. Mercola
November 06 2007
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Sunbathing Cuts Breast Cancer Risk in Half

Exposure to sunlight may reduce your risk of advanced breast cancer, according to new research from Stanford University.

The study followed 4,000 women between the ages of 35 and 79, and evaluated the effects of long-term sun exposure. Women with a light skin color who had high sun exposure had half the risk of developing advanced breast cancer (cancer that has spread beyond the breast) as women with low sun exposure.

High sun exposure was defined as having dark skin on your forehead, since your forehead is typically exposed to the sun often.

Sun exposure may work to prevent cancer because it increases the levels of vitamin D in your body. While you can get some vitamin D from your diet, up to 90 percent comes from your exposure to sunlight.

Sources:



Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:
Why isn’t this information on how important sun exposure is for your health on the front page of nearly every newspaper and magazine or on the evening news? Do you think it might have something to do with the fact that no one is making large amounts of money by telling you this?

And the converse is very true; large industries stand to lose billions of dollars if this information is widely known and adopted.

In case you missed it in the summary above, this study found that getting a lot of sun exposure can slash your breast cancer risk IN HALF. If you have been reading this newsletter for awhile you will not be surprised because I have been saying this for some time now, as far back as 1998. Clearly, the dangers of the sun have been completely exaggerated and have actually prompted many of you to increase your risk of cancer by shunning the sun. The studies on the health benefits of sunshine just keep pouring in. Back in August, a particularly groundbreaking study came out that found 600,000 cases of cancer could be prevented every year just by increasing the levels of vitamin D, and that increasing levels of vitamin D could prevent diseases that claim nearly 1 million lives throughout the world each year!

I am always thrilled to have well-respected, peer-reviewed journals publish studies that further confirm this exciting finding.

The evidence is very clear that the farther away from the equator you live, the higher your risk of dying from cancer becomes. Why? With sun exposure, UVB radiation from the sun converts cholesterol in your body into vitamin D, one of the most potent anti-cancer vitamins there is.

This is why you simply must get out there and expose your skin to the sun as much as you can during the summer months. You do NOT want to get sunburned, but you do need to stay out long enough (with enough skin exposed) for your body to produce plenty of vitamin D.

It’s not excessive for a light-skinned person to stay out in the sun for an hour a day, particularly once they’ve built up a tan. If you have darker skin, which acts like a filter, you will need to stay out from two to five times longer to get the vitamin D you need.

Now that winter is approaching, which means that many of you in the United States will not see the sun again until April or May, what should you do to keep your vitamin D levels up?

You can take a vitamin D3 supplement, such as cod liver oil. However, It IS possible to overdose on oral vitamin D supplements (there’s very little risk of overdosing on vitamin D from the sun, however), so you need to have your blood levels of vitamin D measured regularly.

Just remember, sun exposure is by far the best way to get your vitamin D.

What About Tanning Beds?

For years I have also told you to find a safe tanning bed to get your dose of vitamin D in the winter. I even asked readers to put me in touch with someone that can make these beds. Well, guess what? Someone actually did.

For the past few months I have been working with a U.S. manufacturer that has a patented vitamin D sunlamp system that will keep you healthy in the winter. It is far more convenient and less expensive than snow-birding in Florida or Hawaii -- and it will keep your entire family healthy in the winter.

Not only will it raise your vitamin D levels and radically reduce your risk of cancer, it will dramatically reduce -- if not virtually eliminate -- your risk of the flu, coughs and cold in the winter (assuming you are following the basic elements of the Total Health Program). I hope to provide more information about this before the end of the year.

For more incredible details on the importance of sunshine and vitamin D to reduce your risk of cancer, I urge you to read my new special report: Over a Million People Die Every Year From Lack of Sun Exposure.

I wrote this report just in time for winter, so you can find out the vital details you need to know to keep your vitamin D levels where they need to be. Also, keep an eye out for my upcoming book Dark Deception, which explores this topic in even greater detail, and exposes why the conventional advice to stay out of the sun is dead wrong.
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Community Comments ( 52 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
mmc88121
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on October 22, 2007 ]
15 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
The clinical trials article was doing good until it stated to avoid sunshine and find other forms of vitamin D.  The Vitamin D from the sun is the most bioavailable form there is.  Just because pharmaceutical companies and cosmetic companies have inundated with a fear campaign is no reason not to get natural sunshine.

Mary
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Fred Potter
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on November 6, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I live in NZ which has a thin ozone layer. The greater UV exposure gives us a much greater risk of malignant melanoma (skin cancer) than anywhere else, so it's a balancing act

  
  
Russ Bianchi
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on October 22, 2007 ]
14 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
If sunshine kills bacteria and mold, which we know it does; and animals naturally take the sun for a brief, or sustained, daily period, which they do; ergo, some sunshine, in moderation, is good for humans...(and a free source of absorbable Vitamin D that is essence for good health)...

Occums Razor: "Invariably,  the simplest answer tends to be the correct one."

To Your Good Health!

Uncle Russ
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
tanguy
 		[ Joined on 12/07 ]  [ Posted on December 20, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Fred, new studies show that the people affected most by malignate melanomas are people who don't get enough sunshine. Would you believe that It happens most to MEN in their fifties who work outside and the melanomas are on places on their bodies that never see the sun?  Check out http://www.uvfoundation.org/  or  www.vitamindcouncil.com   or http://www.sunarc.org/ for some very interesting information.

  
  
foxtroter
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on October 22, 2007 ]
11 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Article states: 

"Sunlight plays a vital role in the production of beneficial vitamin D in the body. Although food provides some vitamin D, up to 90 per cent comes from exposure to sunlight."

Remember that if you are going to take a supplement to take Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and not Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).  The body must convert D2 to D3.  D3 is what the body makes with sunshine.  You should have your Vitamin D levels checked also.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
"David"
 [ Joined on 08/06 ] [ Posted on October 23, 2007 ]
9 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
.....never mind 'research'....

    We should always look at what is happening in the real world......and of course, we human beings and many other living things, know that sunlight is essential for our survival and well being.
It is surely some testament to the power of commercal pressures, that we are stupid enough to be persuaded othewise by big businesses' vested interests.

I see a parallel here with 'real' natural food and junk concoctions masquarading as food...not to mention natural health options and the fool's paradise of the 'instant fix that isn't ', allopathic chemical junk.
l
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Musica
 [ Joined on 06/07 ] [ Posted on November 7, 2007 ]
5 Points        
   
 
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.

Only today I had bought 3 bottles of 1000 UI vitamin D for myself, my husband and my sons (we live above 45degrees latitude, plus I have MS). The happy coincidence made that I read dr. Mercola's article before I opened the bottles. Again, I'm grateful to dr. Mercola for allowing the discussions and sharing of experience on this site. Very useful information.

It seems to me that supplementing with D3 is very controversial, and there's lots of information regarding this subject. Before I open the vit. D bottles, I have to research more, and get tested for the level of vit. D in the blood. Again, thank you all.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Dr. Mercola
 		[ Joined on 12/97 ]  [ Posted on November 7, 2007]
5 Points        
   
Master User
  Mercola

You have a special situation. If you have MS and live in Canada you are virtually GUARANTEED to be vitamin D deficient. Over 95% in Canada are deficient.  So it is safe to take the D now. The value of testing is that it will show you how low you actually are.  You may actually need 10,000 units of vitamin D every day. The key is to use that test as your GOLD standard

You need testing EVERY month.  As you near the optimum, or about February perhaps March cut down or stop and make sure you switch to REAL sunshine.  

Ideally you will also want to look at the new tanning bed which we are introducing VERY soon.  It is less than $1000 US (so less in Canada) and will provide all the safe benefits of sunshine tanning with virtually no risk of overdose.  

Far better than oral vitamin D.  But either way start the oral ASAP!

Mercola
  
Musica
 		[ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on November 7, 2007]
1 Points        
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

Thank you dr. Mercola for your excellent online consultation! I will follow your advice and I'm sure many others in my situation will benefit from your advice as well!

  
  
Polarbear
 [ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on November 6, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.

Vitamin D in supplement form can be dangerous as described at

www.drmcdougall.com/.../vd.htm

Yet they add it to milk products and even soy milk.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Dr. Mercola
 		[ Joined on 12/97 ]  [ Posted on November 6, 2007]
       
   
Master User
  Mercola

Polarbear is correct and Islander you are seriously mistaken. It is quite easy to overdose on oral vitamin D either in food or in supplement form, especially if you have access later on to high quality sunshine. This happens specifically when you take large oral amounts during the winter and then switch to regular sunshine back in the spring. I have seen this many times.

  
  
BeyondOrganic
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on October 23, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I absolutely LOVE laying in the sun.  I don't get to do it very often.  But it is just so relaxing laying in the sun on a beach chair at the beach listening to the waves, breathing in the sea salt air.  Maybe reading a book This summer we made it to this beach where we were able to watch the dolphins swimming back and forth and doing their little flips.  That was a big bonus. Can't wait to go to Kauai next year for a couple of weeks!  Love the beach and love the sunsets! 
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Vicki Marie
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 24, 2007]
       
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Thanks for the laugh BO. I hope your porch is real private. You are doing the right thing as they do say to expose as much skin as possible for your daily sunning time.
Mercola
  
Vicki Marie
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 24, 2007]
       
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
My bad, I meant to reply to Islander about waving at airplanes in the nude. :)
  
  
Aaltrude
 [ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on October 23, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I come from a farming family on both sides with plenty of exposure to sunlight. There have only been two cases of cancer in the family and both of these were caused by cigarette smoking.
There have been two occasions where I have had cuts in my skin become infected and both times I was able to cure the infection by sun exposure and avoid antibiotics.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Vicki Marie
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on October 23, 2007 ]
3 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
My sisters, my aunts, and I all sunbathed for years growing up and there is no occurance of breast cancer among any of the dozen of us with ages ranging from 35 to 65. We also spent lots of time outdoors on the farm with the horses. I always thought we just had good genes. Maybe it was all that good sunshine. We also have an average white skin pigmentation.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
curious7
 [ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on November 6, 2007 ]
1 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User

Sunlight is very good for what ailes you, but we have not as yet been able to crack the code between how much is enough, and how much sunlight is too much.  We also know too much sunlight can prematurely age the skin.  We need to strike a happy balance.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
Islander
 [ Joined on 03/07