As we enjoy the summer activities here in the wet northwest, the appearance of the sun is a welcome sight. Although we get lots of rain, when it gets beautiful, the sun can become harmful, especially if we fail to take the proper precautions.
Plants use the sun to photosynthesize their nutrients into life for us. Without the sun and it’s corresponding function, we would cease to exist. We do however have a process which takes place in our body similar to photosynthesis, and that is the conversion of cholesterol into vitamin D.
When our skin is exposed to the sun, the UV rays convert cholesterol into vitamin D, for the uptake and distribution of calcium. Without this happening, we see all kinds of problems.
In the winter time, we don’t get enough sun up here, and it’s not uncommon to test for vitamin D levels and find the majority of patients to be deficient. In fact, my own last blood test showed me to be low in vitamin D. Maybe it’s because I spend too much time in my office when I should be out waterskiing.
Studies have revealed that vitamin D supplementation can greatly reduce the risk of cancer. White blood cells require calcium to function normally. Without vitamin D to improve absorption, your immune system has it’s hands tied.
Besides immunity, vitamin D is required for maintaining mental and emotional health. We all know it’s easier to feel elated when the sun is shining than on a grey, cloudy day. There are vitamin D receptors in many areas of the brain. Many anti-depressant medications exert their action by increasing the concentration of what’s called monoamines in the brain. The enzyme which affects serotonin and regulates it’s production is influenced by vitamin D. Because of this, researchers have suggested that vitamin D may also increase the amount of these monoamines, and help treat depression.
Obviously, before taking serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, which are expensive and can potentially create more health challenges, wouldn’t it be wise to check your vitamin D levels first? Besides depression there are other mental health challenges which could be helped with the addition of vitamin D if you are testing low.
So, with all this wonderful help from vitamin D from the sun, what’s the down side you may ask. Most of us have overdone it out in the sun, and endured a bad sunburn at one time or another. With this Scandinavian skin, I have to monitor my time in the sun to avoid getting burnt. At one time in my life I had a large boat and spent a lot of time on the ocean. Me and sunscreen had become best buddies back then.
We talked about the anti-cancer benefits of vitamin D, but what about the potential of skin cancer from sun exposure? When increasing vitamin D in our system, if we fail to get enough of the vitamin F, which is the poly unsaturated fatty acids found in flax seed oil, wheat germ oil, borage seed oil, and evening primrose oil, the vitamin D will pull calcium out of the tissues into the blood.
When the tissues are lacking calcium, even when it’s abundant in the blood, the tissues become more susceptible to damage. This is when the sunburn has the potential of creating deeper damage. This is what can initiate skin cancer.
You see, vitamin D is important for the uptake of calcium from the gut into the blood, and vitamin F to transport calcium into the tissues to keep them strong. Since the food industry has stripped good unsaturated fats from our foods to preserve them, unless you make a conscious effort to get them in your diet, the sun can end up not being such a friend.
The bleaching of flour involves removal of wheat germ oil. I believe this is one of the reasons why we see so much gluten intolerance. I’ve been milling my own grains now for the last 33 years so I can get the good oils in my diet. Besides that, I also take a supplement known as Cataplex F. This way I can enjoy the sun (reasonably). I still occasionally forget to put a hat on and get my dome burnt. The brains are still working though.
Plants use the sun to photosynthesize their nutrients into life for us. Without the sun and it’s corresponding function, we would cease to exist. We do however have a process which takes place in our body similar to photosynthesis, and that is the conversion of cholesterol into vitamin D.
When our skin is exposed to the sun, the UV rays convert cholesterol into vitamin D, for the uptake and distribution of calcium. Without this happening, we see all kinds of problems.
In the winter time, we don’t get enough sun up here, and it’s not uncommon to test for vitamin D levels and find the majority of patients to be deficient. In fact, my own last blood test showed me to be low in vitamin D. Maybe it’s because I spend too much time in my office when I should be out waterskiing.
Studies have revealed that vitamin D supplementation can greatly reduce the risk of cancer. White blood cells require calcium to function normally. Without vitamin D to improve absorption, your immune system has it’s hands tied.
Besides immunity, vitamin D is required for maintaining mental and emotional health. We all know it’s easier to feel elated when the sun is shining than on a grey, cloudy day. There are vitamin D receptors in many areas of the brain. Many anti-depressant medications exert their action by increasing the concentration of what’s called monoamines in the brain. The enzyme which affects serotonin and regulates it’s production is influenced by vitamin D. Because of this, researchers have suggested that vitamin D may also increase the amount of these monoamines, and help treat depression.
Obviously, before taking serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, which are expensive and can potentially create more health challenges, wouldn’t it be wise to check your vitamin D levels first? Besides depression there are other mental health challenges which could be helped with the addition of vitamin D if you are testing low.
So, with all this wonderful help from vitamin D from the sun, what’s the down side you may ask. Most of us have overdone it out in the sun, and endured a bad sunburn at one time or another. With this Scandinavian skin, I have to monitor my time in the sun to avoid getting burnt. At one time in my life I had a large boat and spent a lot of time on the ocean. Me and sunscreen had become best buddies back then.
We talked about the anti-cancer benefits of vitamin D, but what about the potential of skin cancer from sun exposure? When increasing vitamin D in our system, if we fail to get enough of the vitamin F, which is the poly unsaturated fatty acids found in flax seed oil, wheat germ oil, borage seed oil, and evening primrose oil, the vitamin D will pull calcium out of the tissues into the blood.
When the tissues are lacking calcium, even when it’s abundant in the blood, the tissues become more susceptible to damage. This is when the sunburn has the potential of creating deeper damage. This is what can initiate skin cancer.
You see, vitamin D is important for the uptake of calcium from the gut into the blood, and vitamin F to transport calcium into the tissues to keep them strong. Since the food industry has stripped good unsaturated fats from our foods to preserve them, unless you make a conscious effort to get them in your diet, the sun can end up not being such a friend.
The bleaching of flour involves removal of wheat germ oil. I believe this is one of the reasons why we see so much gluten intolerance. I’ve been milling my own grains now for the last 33 years so I can get the good oils in my diet. Besides that, I also take a supplement known as Cataplex F. This way I can enjoy the sun (reasonably). I still occasionally forget to put a hat on and get my dome burnt. The brains are still working though.
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