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Dr. Mercola
July 03 2008
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Sunshine is Nature's Disease Fighter

sunlight, sunMedical researchers are growing increasingly excited about a wonder drug that may significantly reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases -- sunshine.

A recent study found that men who are deficient in vitamin D, which your body produces in response to sunlight, have more than double the normal risk of suffering a heart attack.

In fact, men with vitamin D levels below 15 nanograms per milliliter had 2.5 times the risk of having a heart attack or dying -- even after controlling for all other possible risk factors such as hypertension, obesity and high lipid levels.

Another study found that low levels of vitamin D increased the risk of diabetes, and yet another linked vitamin D deficiencies to an increased risk of dying from breast cancer.

These findings all join a growing body of evidence indicating that an adequate level of the vitamin, which many people can get from 20 minutes in the sun each day, is crucial to maintaining good health.

Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:
If spending some time in the sun each day this summer is not on your list of priorities, I urge you to reconsider. This simple act can drastically reduce your risk of major diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Not to mention that the feel of the warm sun on your skin is one of life’s great pleasures -- and it’s free, so what have you got to lose?

The evidence just keeps pouring in.

It’s no coincidence that northern countries (with less intense sunlight and colder winters) have higher levels of heart disease than sun-filled southern countries, and more heart attacks occur in the winter months, when sunlight is scarce.

This recent study found that low vitamin D levels more than doubled the risk of heart attack and death. That’s a huge jump! Past studies have also found that getting a daily dose of vitamin D boosts your natural anti-inflammatory response, which can help to treat congestive heart failure.

Just how does vitamin D help your heart?

Well, there are a number of mechanisms triggered by vitamin D production that help fight heart disease, including:
  • An increase in your body's natural anti-inflammatory cytokines
  • The suppression of vascular calcification
  • The inhibition of vascular smooth muscle growth
Vitamin D also works by lowering insulin resistance, which is one of the major factors leading to heart disease in the United States.

Using Sunlight for Your Health

Unfortunately, in the United States the sun has been vilified. Many people have been convinced that staying out of the sun is necessary to avoid cancer, when actually the exact opposite is true. Why would anyone in their right mind want to exchange the risk of a few harmless skin cancers with that of serious life-threatening challenges like colon, breast, prostate and colon cancers?

Of course, you always want to avoid getting burned, but generally speaking you can safely spend anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours in the sun every day with beneficial effects. If you have dark-colored skin or live far from the equator, you will need to spend more time in the sun than someone who is light-skinned living close to the equator.

If you are a person who regularly spends time outdoors, without sunblock (sunblock screens out ultraviolet light, which interferes with vitamin D production in your body), then your vitamin D levels may be OK. However, most people spend a lot of time inside and do not get adequate sun exposure on a daily basis.

For this reason, I strongly encourage you to have your vitamin D levels tested. If you are currently facing chronic disease, it’s even more important that you get your levels checked, as vitamin D deficiency could be a factor.

The test is a simple blood test called 25(OH)D, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D. You can request it from just about any doctor, but ideally you will get it from a holistic physician who understands the importance of vitamin D, and can guide you into getting your levels optimized.

What’s the Best Way to Get Vitamin D?

Sun exposure is always the best method of getting vitamin D, but some people do need to take a vitamin D3 supplement to keep their levels up. You should only do this under the care of a knowledgeable physician, however, as you can overdose on vitamin D supplements.

In fact, the only time you don’t need to worry about whether or not you’re getting too much, or too little, vitamin D is when your body makes it naturally from the sun.

There is still massive confusion out there, even among health care professionals, about what’s healthy and what’s not when it comes to sunlight and vitamin D. For instance, certain vitamin D supplements (vitamin D2) are highly inferior to vitamin D3, and should not be taken.

Meanwhile, some doctors will tell you your vitamin D levels are “normal” if they’re over 20 ng/ml. In reality, your vitamin D level should NEVER be below 32 ng/ml and should really be 45-52 ng/ml to be optimal.

My new book, Dark Deception, is coming out shortly and it will help to clear up all of this confusion once and for all.

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Community Comments ( 42 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
Islander
 [ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on June 12, 2008 ]
19 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
I'm glad the L.A. Times is getting the story out to the masses, but for those who follow health and wellness trends, this is not news. The correlation between Vitamin D and health (or conversely, Vitamin D deficiency and disease) has been available for several years. Don't expect the medical community to embrace the concept, though, since they can't take out a patent on sunshine. In fact, expect the opposite: manufacturers of sunscreen will be in denial, denial, denial.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
samurai
 		[ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on June 12, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Well stated.  I could not agree with you more.  Growing up in New Mexico, I became "addicted" to our aging, and warming star....
Mercola
  
JWRM42
 		[ Joined on 02/07 ]  [ Posted on June 12, 2008]
2 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Islander, I should have read your post before posting my own. Glad we're on the same page. [with others too]

You said it better than myself! Great post!

42
  
  
tech1906
 [ Joined on 02/08 ] [ Posted on July 3, 2008 ]
14 Points        
   
 
Novice User

I am a type II diabetic, and had a foot infection a couple of years ago.  The doctors made an incision on the bottom of my foot and cleaned out the infected tissue ( what I like to call a "foot canal").  They left the deep incision open so it would mend from the inside out.

It was very slow to heal, as is typical for diabetics, and six weeks went by and it was slowly healing, but still a draining open wound.  The doctor was convinced that I needed partial amputation of the foot.  He even called and scheduled surgery for this.

I went home and decided to take things into my own hands.  I put a chair in the back yard, removed the bandages from my foot, and let direct sunlight hit the bottom of my foot for an hour each, for two consecutive days.  I also tried to catch some rays with other areas of skin, to boost my overall vitamin D levels, as well as do some whole body "blood sterilization".

Almost miraculously, the third day my wound had completely healed shut, and the drainage stopped!!!  The doctor was taken back by this, and even admitted his assumption that it would not heal, was wrong.  He was sure it was going to require amputating a toe and also removing a bone from my foot.

I had one somewhat unusual advantage in that I am very nutrition conscious, and was doing everything I could to boost my nutrition to fight the infection also.  At least I didn't have malnutrition to contend with too, as many diabetics unknowingly do.  

But I'm convinced the sunlight probably played havoc with any pathogens in the wound, and the increased vitamin D played a significant part in overcoming the infection.  It is also my understanding that sunlight hitting capilaries in my skin, also "whacks" many bad organisms in my blood stream.

Years of reading Dr. Mercolas web site has helped me tremendously in staying pretty healthy even with my type II diabetes.  I am so grateful to have this information available.  Many thanks!

 [ Reply ]
  
  
JWRM42
 [ Joined on 02/07 ] [ Posted on June 12, 2008 ]
14 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
...Only problem is, you'll never hear this coming from the Big Med group since there is no money to be made with telling people to be in the glorious sunshine. If anything they will publish a "study" that proves that sunshine is bad for you.

Money makes their [ignorant] world go 'round.

42
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Jewels1
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on July 4, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

'Money makes their ignorant world go 'round'', very true. The trouble is that it's not an ignorant world on their side, at all. I am convinced that they know all too well what they are inflicting on us, however, the money and the profit factor outweighs the minuscule remnants of people's conscience who run Big Pharma and co.  It's outrageous what we have to endure in the name of their profits. Something must be done, "things are falling apart, the centre cannot hold". We must make our voices loud enough to be heard that we will not be tossed around in their game as their ball.

  
  
Greco Roman Wellness
 [ Joined on 05/08 ] [ Posted on July 3, 2008 ]
6 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Hi Everyone, This is from Ray Salomone, Personal Trainer and Wellness Crusader. For years the sun has taken a battering in the media. Finally, the tide is turning and people are starting to realize that the sun is one of our biggest friends, not the enemy big business wants you to think it is. Enjoy the sun.

Be Active, Be Fit, Be Strong.

www.GrecoRomanWellness.com

FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE.

1. TAKE A WALK-get the heart pumping, the muscles moving, the oxygen flowing

2. BREAK A SWEAT-Eliminates toxins that accumulates in, under and over the skin. To break a sweat, see #1.

3. FLOSS YOUR TEETH- Accumulated food turns rancid and can seep into your bloodstream and eventually find its way to your heart.

4. SIT IN THE SUN-Many of us are vitamin D deficient and the best way to get vitamin D is through sitting in the sun for 15 minutes a day. Check your sunscreens, read the ingredients labels and decide for yourself if you want to put that on your skin.

5. DEEP BREATHING-An instant energizer that pushes oxygen throughout your entire body. Take a long, intense inhale through your nose and a long, slow exhale through your mouth. Repeat 10 times. Do this first thing in the morning and anytime your need an energy boost.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
paragonx
 		[ Joined on 07/07 ]  [ Posted on July 3, 2008]
       
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

Good suggestions but you should also drinl 1 liter of pure water today to flush out toxins.
Mercola
  
steve.m
 		[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on July 4, 2008]
2 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Hi Greco,

I have taught myself to breath through my nose all the time, just as we are supposed to do. Only humans breath through their mouths, this only fills part of our lungs and raises blood pressure and heart rate, all symptoms of stress.

Breathing through our nose using our stomach muscles also has the benefit of producing a six pack, rather than a beer gut. It takes time, but it is an easy and life long way of staying fit and relaxed.

Wishing you all much love and happiness,

steve m.
  
  
Nathan
 [ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on June 21, 2008 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
"Sunshine is nature's disease fighter"  DUH!!!

http://www.friendswithcancer.com.au
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
ExRay
 		[ Joined on 10/07 ]  [ Posted on July 3, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Nathan, I clicked on your link and read your website, but I can't figure out what you mean by '"Sunshine is nature's disease fighter"  DUH!!! " '. Please explain
  
  
dpmsurf
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on July 3, 2008 ]
3 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Hello Eveyone.

Just a quick note. I take a walk at lunchtime 12:30ish everyday.  I take my shirt off and walk for 20 minutes.  My co-workers think I am nutz (which I am) but not for taking a walk with my shirt off.  Hopefully I will build up some vitamin D for the long winter.  

I try to convince co-workers and friends that the sun is good for them and they should try to get as much as they can with out getting burned.  

Unfortunately us Amercians are taught our health beliefs from some old Doctor who would not know good health if it hit him in the head.  

SO if you see any of my co-workers or friends tell them to get some sun.  You can tell it's them cause they will be walking around looking very pale and unhappy.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
veggiet
 		[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on July 3, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

hey there dpmsurf;

Rock on! or should I say WALK ON!?
  
  
Merkey
 [ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on July 3, 2008 ]
3 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Since I changed my diet and stopped eating sugar and eliminating grains and no alcohol I have found that I do not burn as easily as I used to in the sun.  I believe consuming more antioxidents in fruits and vegtables makes you able to stay in the sun longer without a burn.  The antioxidents rush to the surface of the skin and protect it from burning.  It is almost as if you eat close to nature you are able to live in nature.  I spend five hours in the sun last weekend and while I turned red at the time I did not burn nor did my skin start to peel in a couple of days.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
moo
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on July 3, 2008 ]
2 Points        
   
 
Savvy User

" the best things in life  are free"

does anyone know how long your body stores vitamin D from sunshine?

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
squeegee
 		[ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on July 3, 2008]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Good question Moo.  I have heard (don't quote me) that an active male requires a few thousand IU per day.  I also seem to remember Mercola saying that you can't "bank" vitamin D... you have to get regularly - every day if possible.
  
  
nataliemarie
 [ Joined on 10/06 ] [ Posted on July 3, 2008 ]
1 Points        
   
 
Novice User

I unfortunately suffered a spinal cord injury three years ago while I was at work. Ironically I was a physical and massage therapist and had a 500 pound weight machine fall over on me.

I still currently have neck pain most of which seems to be nerve pain. It is amazing though because I could be suffering from very excruciating pain and go outside into the sun.... within minutes of the hot sun beating down on my neck, I'm completely pain-free. It is the best 'medicine free' pain reliever.

It truly amazes me how much better I feel in warm and sunny weather! I could never give that up!

 [ Reply ]
  
  
JacqueR
 [ Joined on 05/08 ] [ Posted on July 3, 2008 ]
1 Points