Dr. Mercola January 26 2008 55,048 views
I believe that your body is better able to react to sunlight when it is given the proper nutrition. I have heard that your risk of burning is lower when your diet contatins plentiful vegetables chock full of phytonutrients and antioxidants. Just seems to make sense. Not to mention, I remember Dr. Mercola a while back talking about eating vegetables to help ward off the summer insects (that much prefer the blood of those indulging in sugars and simple carbs to the blood of those who eat a healthy diet that includes many vegetables).
A search on Google also came up with these helpful tips on nutrition's role in preventing sunburn:
www.healthy.net/.../article.asp
* Watch your diet. People whose diets are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats (such as sunflower, safflower and other vegetable oils) are more prone to have sun-damaged skin. Once consumed, these oils work their way to the skin surface, where sunlight oxidises them, which rapidly creates free radicals - unstable molecules that damage the cells’ DNA, leading to photoageing as well as skin cancer (Nutr Cancer, 1987; 9: 219-26).
* Supplement. If you are going to be out in the sun, consider upping your intake of vitamins C and E. In one study, 2 g of vitamin C and 1000 IU of vitamin E daily reduced the tendency to sunburn (J Am Acad Dermatol, 1998; 38: 45-8). Beta-carotene is a safe and effective treatment for those whose skin is overly sensitive to sunlight due to a genetic disorder (JAMA, 1974, 228: 1004-8). UV exposure depletes the body of this nutrient, and the evidence indicates that supplementing with 25 mg of mixed carotenoids plus 500 IU of natural vitamin E will provide extra sunburn protection (Am J Clin Nutr, 2000; 71: 795-8).
For the record, I don't recall Dr. Mercola ever recommending 45 minutes of sun exposure per day.
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Dr Greg
Not sure why you have negative points already. I agree with this post.
mamabear
Thank you, Dr. Heller for rference to the article at www.healthy.net/...article.asp. I gre up near the beach in SE Texas. We were taught those rules at an early age (from the above article):
* Adjust your sun exposure to your skin type. The most sun-sensitive are those of Celtic extraction, often with red hair, who hardly tan and burn easily, usually after about 20 minutes of British midsummer sun. The least sensitive are those with brown-to-black Afro-Caribbean skin and hair, who can stay longer in the sun without burning.
* Stay out of the sun during peak hours - between 11 am and 2 pm. This is especially important if you have not been exposed to the sun for some time.
Like everything else, exposure to sun is an individual matter. I am blonde, fair-skinned, and have had skin-cancer twice--bascal cell caricinomas in the same area in my smile line. My brother is red-haired and is dealing now with squamous skin cancers.. My sister is the only sibling who decided as a teenager to forego the sun; she wears long sleeves and long pantsw with a large-brimmed hat and has never had skin cancers. None of us eat excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids.
I believe sunscreens are mostly bad, escept those I "screen" for dodgy ingredients. For the past several years I've been making my own sunscreen (1/3 powdered Vitamin C, 1/3 aloe vera gel, and 1/3 jojoba oil) and it's runny, I have to shake the mixture before applying it, has to be re-applied at least every hour, and I still try to limit my exposure (even though I play tennis), but it works better than any commercial product I've ever used and gives my skin a beautiful glow.
I get my "sun hit" during the winter (6 degrees F this morning) by soaking in the hot springs, ideally, at least once a week. I have a healthy respect for the sun., but I am not afraid of it. "Let the sun shine..."
My Dad is of Native American ancestry and never wore sunscreen. Whenever he was not at work, he was in the sun and I remember him being red all the time, although he never actually burned. He is 73 and just had a cancer removed from the top of his head. Other than the cancer spot he is amazingly healthy, very positive attitude and freakishly strong, even at this age. I am sure other factors (such as growing up with almost no flour or sugar and taking cod liver oil) contribute, but he spent his entire childhood outside. I really believe Mercola and try to get my kids in the sun, without burning of course.